Disaster Survival Guide

Say the words “Malibu hills” and most Americans think of movie star mansions, or the carefree surf culture that reigned there in the early 1960s. Few would associate those lovely wooded hills with a nightmare conflagration. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened in October when a large area of Southern California was struck by wildfires.

While this seemingly natural catastrophe actually resulted from the hands of a juvenile arsonist, the devastation was anything but minor. According to www.cnn.com/us, the fires are blamed for 14 deaths and the destruction of more than 508,000 acres and1,600 homes. The wildfires forced the evacuation of about 15,000 people.

But regardless of whether this disaster came at the hands of nature or through criminal mischief, the fires should underscore for everyone the importance of proper planning to survive and rebuild after disasters, such as fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.

This article looks at how three Southern California textile service companies coped with this catastrophe, and offer tips and resources you can use to prepare for the day we all hope never comes—when a natural or manmade disaster threatens the life of your business.

Sarah Jarvis, communications director for ARAMARK Corp., Philadelphia, noted that throughout the time of the fires ARAMARK Uniform Services (AUS) worked continuously to bring some sort of normalcy to its customers.

The fires forced the evacuation of 21 of the company’s 200 employees, but AUS’ San Diego plant continued to operate. General Manager Cesar Torres said he gathered every morning with 15 colleagues to discuss logistics, strategies and how to keep routes running where possible. With client outreach, Torres’ team reassured customers that they would see that white truck and their ARAMARK route service reps (RSRs). When there was no answer, it was a sad sign that the business had closed.

Only two of ARAMARK’s 42 routes were inaccessible and all 200 of those customers were forced to shut down. When the air turned gray with smoke, Torres made sure that all his RSRs had masks, if they wanted them. More importantly, he alerted his team that if anyone’s family had to evacuate, each RSR was expected to immediately head home.

While working 12-hour days, and with his own home near the path of the flames, Torres still wanted to make sure that his community was getting help too. “It’s what ARAMARK does,” said Torres. “We are there, helping, no matter whether it’s a firestorm, hurricane, or blizzard. We are committed to providing extraordinary service no matter the elements.”

Joe Ryan, director of sales and marketing for Job Options Inc., San Diego, was one of thousands of Californians forced to evacuate during the fires. “I was just let back into our neighborhood this evening after being evacuated for 48 hours,” he said when the fires were beginning to ebb. “To our relief, our home was still standing. Some of our neighbors and friends were not as fortunate. The fire has had an impact on employees as well as customers.”

Kim Garden, marketing manager for Mission Linen Supply, Santa Barbara, CA, said that though the fire was difficult, it brought out the best in her colleagues and community. “The fires in Southern California have brought the Mission Linen Supply family closer together,” Garden said. “The disaster has created similar challenges to other businesses in the area. Our employees’ dedication is remarkable, as the fire has impacted several of them personally. We have trailers set up in some sites to help provide shelter for those who need it.

“We have implemented safety measures to ensure that our employees are safe, and we are doing our best to continue to service our customers. We are working with our partners to establish a relief effort to help support the victims.”

Each of these companies showed what it takes to get through a disaster like the California wildfires. They stayed together, remained calm and coordinated resources to get through the crisis until a recovery effort could begin.

Below is material on how you can prepare to survive a similar disaster. The information you see here—if absorbed and acted on—could help save your business, should you have the misfortune of going through what the three people quoted above experienced.

Each of these companies faced similar obstacles in the wake of the firestorm—productivity loss, customer loss, employee safety/security and liability. The best recovery effort is to start with a plan and implement the process once the dust settles.

Geoffrey H. Wold, national director of information systems and technology consulting, McGladrey & Pullen, offers these guidelines for constructing an organizational disaster recovery plan:

Whether a company operates in a zone vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes or wildfires, the impact is potentially devastating. While liability insurance may protect a business from complete financial loss, the relentless damage to organizational stability, operating systems, sensitive documentation, productivity and employee safety can be irreparable. The development of a comprehensive disaster-relief plan is essential to maintain the well-being of your organization and its employees.

After developing a disaster relief plan, verify the type and level of insurance coverage you have against potential damage and loss. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers these checkpoints to obtain adequate coverage before a disaster strikes.

In the wake of a natural disaster, financial or direct assistance is offered to individuals, families and businesses without insurance, whose property has been damaged or destroyed. FEMA provides this coverage to aid victims with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways.

FEMA explains that while some housing assistance funds are available through their Individuals and Households Program, most disaster assistance from the federal government is in the form of loans administered by the Small Business Administration. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery assistance for disaster victims. The SBA has low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and non-farm businesses to cover disaster damage to real and personal property.

“The SBA can loan money to homeowners, renters and business owners,” according to www.fema.gov. “Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for disaster related home repairs. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace disaster-damaged personal property including vehicles. The SBA may not duplicate benefits from your insurance or FEMA. You may receive an SBA referral when you apply with FEMA.”

Don’t wait for the unexpected. Take action today to safeguard your professional and personal property with a plan and proper insurance coverage—because it could happen to you. TR

Ruth Davis is associate editor for Textile Rental. Contact her at 877/770-9274 or via e-mail at rdavis@trsa.org.