Preparing for Any Disaster

I received a request to deal with home and family issues when it comes to a disaster, not just employment or major issues of national security. I love getting these requests and spent some time this morning putting together the best tips possible to help prepare your family, and your home, for a disaster of any type.

First, know that you need to have 5 master plans. You need a plan for yourself and the adults in the home, a plan for seniors in the home, a plan for children in the home, a plan for pets in the home, and a plan for anyone with disabilities within the home. No, a blanket "one-size fits all" strategy will not work. You do need individual plans.

Each plan needs to have four core elements. These elements include an emergency medical kit. The kit is going to be very different for pets vs. seniors vs. someone with Multiple Sclerosis, etc. Make sure back up medications, general triage items, and written down phone numbers of doctors and allergies are included in each kit.

The next element is being CPR trained. Yes, you and everyone in your home should know how to provide CPR to humans and pets. Your third element is community resources. Do you know what they are in case of a disaster? If not, call your local Red cross and sign up for an emergency maintenance class. The fourth, and final element, is practicing. Don't tell your children or spouse when you are going to practice a disaster alarm. Instead, surprise him or her (or them) really early in the morning when people's defenses are down and they are groggy. This will give you a great indication of what has to be worked on.

I hope this information provides the basics, but please feel free to ask me more questions on Twitter!

Twyla N. Garrett

Save Your Business From Disaster!

Emergencies can happen in business. The best offense is a great defense. I've jotted down a few ways to prevent a disaster when it comes to running your business. If you have some tips- please share them with me. I love learning new things and I can share your suggestions with my Twitter followers, too.

First, never leave financial items to a single person. Always have a few people cross checking financial work. You should spot check accounts vs. work, too. And, have a Forensic Accountant review your financials every once in a while. Don't ignore or not spot check accounts because you don't understand one financial concept or another. If you don't understand your finances, or business finances, take a class and become involved. There are dishonest people out there. Knowing how to spot them is key.

Change your company passwords every sixty days. You also have to be careful as to who has passwords and to what account. More so, don't keep your personal and private business matter passwords running the same as employee access passwords. I knew a lady who ran a company and her password to everything was "5679". Employees who had access to Twitter used "5679" as the password per her direction. Well, she had to fire one employee. This employee hacked into her personal Facebook page, business voicemail, and banking accounts using the password "5679". Always change your passwords and never mix your personal passwords with employee access passwords.

Document everything. If your company doesn't have an HR department then documentation is going to be your friend. If you have to discipline an employee or notate a potential client issue then document everything as it is happening. Don't put documentation off to later. Details will be forgotten. Details that can save your company from being sued.

I'm getting ready to host a free seminar soon on the web. If you're interested, please email my marketing team at:

Helene@JumpStartInk.com

Until next time,
Twyla