Wishing away disaster never works. But preparing for emergencies your company could face not only helps you stay in business, it may even allow you to prosper from adversity.
 
That’s because even a disaster “carries a certain amount of opportunity,” says Lucien G. Canton, an independent management consultant specializing in strategic planning for crises. Canton is the former director of emergency services for the city of San Francisco.
 
When disaster strikes, “Is demand for service likely to increase, decrease or stay the same? How do I deal with that? I’ve seen situations where new ...