Disaster Recovery Journal

Despite Recent Disasters, Many Do Not Have an Emergency Plan

Details

Published on Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Written by Web Editor

HARTFORD, Conn., August 31, 2012 – The National Center for Disaster Preparedness reports that 51 percent of families do not have an emergency preparedness plan. Travelers has also recently found that 48 percent of business owners surveyed do not have a written business continuity plan or disaster recovery document that identifies and mitigates potential threats to their business. As National Preparedness Month begins on September 1, Travelers is urging home and business owners to create plans now to help prevent damage when things go wrong and prepare for severe weather and other disasters that could impact their business and family.



“Despite the fact that wildfires, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms persist, and major storms continue to impact Coastal States, the numbers indicate that many families and businesses have not taken the steps to be prepared to handle a disaster,” said Marty Henry, Vice President, Travelers Risk Control. “Now is the time to avoid being complacent and take the necessary steps to get your home and business ready.”



Travelers recommends three steps to help families and business owners prepare for disaster:



·         Make a survival kit – Pack enough supplies to last between three and seven days for your family and pet(s). For businesses, make sure you have copies of important documents and contact lists that you can find and reference after the storm.

·         Map out an evacuation plan – Have a plan for where your family will evacuate. A solid business continuity plan should include information to share with employees about steps the business would take if it were impacted by a disaster.

·         Create an inventory – Be sure to have a copy of your home’s inventory in a separate location. The Insurance Information Institute offers a home inventory app, making it easy for families to create one. For businesses, Travelers’ alliance with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety has Open for Business®, a comprehensive toolkit to help plan ahead.   

“While many may think the large-scale catastrophe may not happen to them, even pop-up thunderstorms can cause significant property damage and they occurred 28 times more frequently than hurricanes in the first half of 2012,” added Henry. “This is just one example of how vulnerable individuals and business owners may be if they are not prepared.”



For additional information on ways to get prepared, visit the Prepare & Prevent and Protect Your Business pages on Travelers.com.





About Travelers

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and operations in the United States and selected international markets. The company generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2011. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.