Winter Weather

Whether you're in the northeast, the midwest or the south, winter weather of one kind or another can disable your business, costing you money and lost productivity. Planning now will help you weather the storms of winter that we know are just ahead (some places already have experienced heavy snow and ice). This week's articles will show you how planning helped last winter and some of the things to think about for the upcoming winter.

Public and private sector players had detailed plans in place, optimized from lessons learned in past storms which helped to minimize the disruption to the more than 50 million people in Winter Storm Jonas' path. (Item #1) Now is the ideal time to create a weather contingency plan to prevent next year's weather from affecting your bottom line. (Item #2) Severe winter storms serve as an important reminder for businesses to evaluate how they can achieve business continuity when extreme winter weather renders their primary facilities inaccessible. (Item #3)

Even if your office building is open during winter storms, can your employees get there? (Item #4) If telecommuting is part of your winter weather preparedness plan, make sure you have a program in place and employees know what is expected of them. (Item #5) Make sure all of your building's systems are ready and able to handle winter weather. (Item #6)

As always, I look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If there are any topics that you'd like to see covered, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. Business Continuity Plans Aided Recovery after Winter Storm Jonas

Before Winter Storm Jonas struck the East Coast and the Mid-Atlantic in late January, business continuity teams were already hard at work preparing for the biggest snowstorm of the 2015/2016 winter season. Meteorologists issued warnings and predictions; government officials and community representatives from schools, hospitals and other organizations reacted; and communication was broadcast through multiple channels including newspaper, radio, TV, social media and push notifications encouraging people to stay home.
http://www.missionmode.com/business-continuity-plans-aided-recovery-winter-storm-jonas/

2. Lessons Learned from a Wicked Winter

Unfortunately, this past winter's severe weather affected the bottom line of many U.S. businesses. According to a study conducted by our parent company FM Global, over 25% of U.S. businesses say that their company was affected financially as a result of the winter weather and many did not have an emergency plan in place. A third of the people polled in the survey said that the companies' greatest concerns when facing such storms were property damage, business continuity planning and loss of profits.CLE
http://www.baylineins.com/2016/11/01/lessons-learned-wicked-winter/

3. Alternate Workspace Strategies for Extreme Winter Weather

An alternate workspace strategy is a necessary component of a business continuity plan. Some businesses invest in local backup office space and equipment to address this need. Their intent is that in the event of a disaster, the business would simply redirect employees to the alternate facility. The problem with this solution is the backup office space itself could be affected by the same weather conditions that impacted business headquarters.
http://www.drj.com/articles/online-exclusive/alternate-workspace-strategies-for-extreme-winter-weather.html

4. Winter is in full swing! Business Continuity Planning for Inclement Weather

This article looks at some things to consider when your office building is forced to close down due to the weather conditions. Even if your building is not forced to close during a storm, there are still a number of important challenges to consider. In this article, we will examine a few things to think about when preparing your firm for this scenario.
http://www.eci.com/blog/88-winter-is-in-full-swing-business-continuity-planning-for-inclement-weather-part-two.html

5. Employers Should Warm Up to Telecommuting in Winter

Without a doubt, employers should warm up to the idea of telecommuting in the winter--and all year long. That way, workers can continue working without missing a beat--no matter if there's a winter storm brewing, or if it's sunny and 70 degrees outside. Telecommuting can be a saving grace when the weather is frightful, but without giving your workers practice working remotely, your flexible work policy might flounder.
https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/employers-should-warm-up-to-telecommuting-in-winter/

6. Winter Weather Precautions

Winter weather events mixed with a lack of preparation can lead to building damage, freeze-up, flood, and business interruption losses. Advance preparation can help to mitigate winter weather impacts on your operations and business continuity. The checklist that follows, though not all-inclusive, can be an effective part of your organization's loss control program.
http://usa.marsh.com/Portals/9/Documents
/4420%20MA5110534%20Winter%20Weather%20Precautions%20RB.pdf