NEBizRecovery – Prepare – Hazards and Threats

Hazards and Threats

 

 

What natural hazards, technological hazards, and other threats can potentially impact the bottom line of your business? This is the first question you need to ask yourself and the first step in developing a recovery plan.An analysis of potential hazards and planning for such events will allow you to mitigate the risk to your business, ensure the safety of personnel and clients, reduce recovery time, and improve the long-term viability of your business.
 
 
 
 

Workplace Hazards

While it will never be possible to identify all the potential threats to your business, here are a few common disruptions in the workplace.
  • Power outage
  • Communication failure
  • Supply chain disruption
  • Internet outage
  • Cyber attack
  • Workplace violence
  • Pandemic
  • Fire
  • Theft
  • Network failure

Natural Hazards

 
The natural hazards most likely to affect our region are:
  • Severe Summer Storms – including high winds, heavy rain, lightning and possibly tornadoes and hail
  • Severe Winter Storms – including heavy snow, extreme cold, ice and blizzard conditions
  • Tornadoes – including high winds, heavy rain and possibly hail
  • Drought – spanning from several months to several years
  • Flooding – including river flood waters, heavy rainfall and flash floods

Do you know the difference between a “watch” and a “warning”? 
A “watch” means the event is possible in or near the watch area and a “warning” means the event is occurring in or near the warning area.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Man-made and Technological Hazards

 

Hazardous Material (HAZMAT)

 

Chemical manufacturers are one source of hazardous materials, but there are many others, including vehicle service stations, hospitals, dry cleaners, food processors and distributors and hazardous materials waste sites such as water and sewage treatment plants.

 

Even if your business does not handle any chemicals, you should be aware of any nearby facilities that are handling hazardous chemicals. A release could affect your workers, customers, and property.

 

HAZMAT information covering what to do before, during and after an incident from FEMA.

 

HAZMAT resources in Nebraska from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

 

There are several active Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) in South Central Nebraska. A LEPC is a group of representatives from all parties interested in HAZMAT in a community. They identify potential risks from hazardous chemicals, minimize those risks, prevent accidents, develop effective plans to deal with a chemical emergency, and provide the public with information about events that affect them.

 

Threat and Technological Hazards

 

Hazard and threat information covering terrorism, explosions, biological and chemical threats, nuclear and radiological incidents from FEMA.