Crisis and Recovery

There are lots of statistics on the consequences of disasters affecting business premises and invoking the need for business continuity and workplace recovery plans.

The 2007 floods around the area of Teweksbury caused an estimated £3billion pounds worth of damage to the economy. More locally, the flood in Northumberland caused significant disruption to many local businesses and flash flooding as a result of heavy rain has tested the infrastructure of businesses in the region.

In businesses that had processes in place and were prepared for floods and other disrupting incidents, the time taken to orchestrate and continue "business as usual" will have been dramatically reduced. As a result the impact on customers, and crucially, revenue will have been minimal.

A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard (e.g. flood, volcanic eruption, earthquake, or landslide) that affects the environment, and leads to financial, environmental or human losses.

What sort of distasters would require business continuity or workplace recovery?

Crime

Arson - what mission critical data would your business lose in a fire. looking at alternatives could give you piece of mind and may save you money with insurers.
Vandalism - Bricks through your windows or doors smashed would slow down your business unless you had a workplace recovery plan in place that would allow your employees to relocate.
Theft - Do customers trust you with their data. High profile data thefts from private and public sector laptops, discs and USB pen drives have had damaging affects on the organisations involved. There are solutions that could help you protect your data.

Power failure

Would your workforce come to a halt. Help them to continue with business continuity and workplace recovery.

Health and disease

Epidemic - the recent concerns over swine flu should provide a reminder on how outbreaks and pandemics can affect your workforce
Famine

Land disasters

Earthquakes
Landslides and Mudflows

Water disasters

Floods - caused by unusual amount of rainfall
Overflowing sinks/drains caused by human error

Weather disasters

Blizzards - Is your workplace accessible for staff in trickier conditions? This years blizzards in the South of England gave an excuse for many people to stay at home following advice to avoid the roads.
Cyclonic storms
Hailstorms - Is there the potential for your premises to be damaged and in turn prevent your business from running as usual.
Heat waves - Is your building able to cope under unusual amount of heat
Tornadoes - The UK is not immune to freak weather like this. Having a coping strategy in place can help you to win projects

Sources for information on natural causes for invoking a BCP: