Coastal towns are a popular tourist destination due to the picture-perfect views and stunning fiery sunsets over the ocean. Poseidon, the great Olympian god of the sea, rivers, floods and earthquakes, highlights the need to be prepared. After all, there are certain consequences faced when operating a business within the vicinity of such beauty and you never know when the earth may start to shake or the water and waves will rise. A disaster as tragic as any Greek myth may happen at any time – are you ready to combat the great Poseidon when the time comes?
This three-part series — Preparing Coastal Businesses — will cover earthquakes, floods and tsunamis. How does your organization prepare for a tsunami?
Here’s what you need to know when preparing your emergency plan:
1. Evacuation Routes
Include an evacuation route from your business location to higher ground, ideally 30 meters above sea level and away from the coast line. Don’t forget to practice your evacuation route to keep staff familiar with the course; the practice drills can really come in handy in adverse weather or darkness. For more information, check out our post on the difference between evacuation routes and disaster response routes.
2. Notifications
Familiarize yourself with tsunami notification sources. You can listen to the radio, read the news online, get notified via social media, or watch television. But remember not to rely heavily on these sources as a power outage may occur at any time. Instead, make sure to also listen for outdoor sirens and door-to-door contact for the notification.
3. Emergency Supply Kit
When evacuating, carry a backpack-style emergency kit which at the minimum includes the essentials — water, flashlight and first aid kit. Check out our top 10 must-haves for what to include in your office’s emergency supply kit to ensure you are ready.
These are just a few of the planning elements to include in your emergency plan for responding to a tsunami warning. If you operate a coastal business and want advice on what else to include in your emergency plan, contact us and we can set up a meeting to discuss your organization’s emergency planning and continuity management needs.
Stay tuned! Next up is the second article in our three-part series, Preparing Coastal Businesses for the Big 3 — #2 Earthquake’s.