Make Your Golf Course Disaster Ready
Not that long ago, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma decimated the majority of three major Gulf Coast cities. Not too long before that, Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne laid waste to Florida. Both areas were major venues for the golf course community. And both, were devastated.
It is safe to say that some communities are more at risk than others. Yet, did you know that no matter where you live, your golf course is at risk to some form of natural disaster (i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc.)? Did you further know that about one-third are unprepared for a disaster and will never reopen afterwards?
Storm season is already in full-swing this year. It might be time to look into some of your own areas of weakness. By becoming aware and detecting your vulnerabilities, you are better preparing your business to survive any disaster that comes your way.
Maurice Ramiez, physician and natural disaster consultant and expert, has some “simple steps” to help you in making your course operations disaster ready. Create a checklist from the suggestions below to see what you may need to work on as a prepared course manager:
Incident Command - Every community has one person in command in case of a disaster. Find out who is the incident commander and ask how you can become part of the structure. If you wait until disaster strikes, your offers of help may be too late. Do it now.
Safety - Know where your safety vulnerabilities are. If you were to lose power, how will that affect your business? Be prepared. Let local law enforcement know that if the power is off, your business will be vulnerable.
Assess your situation–either your current one or the potential one during a disaster - If keeping your business open is not safe, or if your employees have urgent personal or family needs during a crisis, you need to take responsibility for that and be realistic. Assess whether it is safe to continue to be open for you and your employees.
Support works both ways - The easiest way to get support during an emergency is to give it as part of the support team. Approach the emergency response manager and say, “I can provide you the following things. Will that be of help?” You will most likely get a yes, especially if you do this ahead of time.
Triage means to do the most good for the most people with limited resources - Even if you’ve been the best person and the most helpful to your community, if your needs are minor you will have to wait longer than someone whose needs are greater. The person with the greatest need will get help first–no matter when they ask. Adopt the same principle with your business.
Evacuate - If you are called to evacuate, go. Orders to evacuate usually come in stages. When they tell you it’s time to evacuate, heed the warning.
Recovery begins with your recovery plan–long before the event occurs - Before the forecasted event, move your computers and set your supplies aside. Continue to do business. Have a cashbox and receipt book in case your register goes down.
Ready - Now that you’ve been through the disaster plan, you need to be ready within your own business. What do you rely on? Do you have key procedures? Write them down now. Keep a copy at your business and another off-site. Back up your computer files and store them off-site.
Educate - Develop a written procedure to stay in touch with your employees and community. Make sure your staff knows exactly what they should do.
Appreciate your employees every day - Not only will you experience a more pleasant workplace, but in a time of crisis your employees will pay you back with their loyalty.
Drill for disasters - If you don’t, panic will set in. You will revert to what is familiar–the day-to-day routine you’ve always done–not what you should be doing in a disaster.
You - For businesses, it comes down to you-each individual and each employer. Take responsibility for all your actions. Plan ahead and be part of the recovery solution.
It is safe to say that some communities are more at risk than others. Yet, did you know that no matter where you live, your golf course is at risk to some form of natural disaster (i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, floods, etc.)? Did you further know that about one-third are unprepared for a disaster and will never reopen afterwards?
Storm season is already in full-swing this year. It might be time to look into some of your own areas of weakness. By becoming aware and detecting your vulnerabilities, you are better preparing your business to survive any disaster that comes your way.
Maurice Ramiez, physician and natural disaster consultant and expert, has some “simple steps” to help you in making your course operations disaster ready. Create a checklist from the suggestions below to see what you may need to work on as a prepared course manager:
Incident Command - Every community has one person in command in case of a disaster. Find out who is the incident commander and ask how you can become part of the structure. If you wait until disaster strikes, your offers of help may be too late. Do it now.
Safety - Know where your safety vulnerabilities are. If you were to lose power, how will that affect your business? Be prepared. Let local law enforcement know that if the power is off, your business will be vulnerable.
Assess your situation–either your current one or the potential one during a disaster - If keeping your business open is not safe, or if your employees have urgent personal or family needs during a crisis, you need to take responsibility for that and be realistic. Assess whether it is safe to continue to be open for you and your employees.
Support works both ways - The easiest way to get support during an emergency is to give it as part of the support team. Approach the emergency response manager and say, “I can provide you the following things. Will that be of help?” You will most likely get a yes, especially if you do this ahead of time.
Triage means to do the most good for the most people with limited resources - Even if you’ve been the best person and the most helpful to your community, if your needs are minor you will have to wait longer than someone whose needs are greater. The person with the greatest need will get help first–no matter when they ask. Adopt the same principle with your business.
Evacuate - If you are called to evacuate, go. Orders to evacuate usually come in stages. When they tell you it’s time to evacuate, heed the warning.
Recovery begins with your recovery plan–long before the event occurs - Before the forecasted event, move your computers and set your supplies aside. Continue to do business. Have a cashbox and receipt book in case your register goes down.
Ready - Now that you’ve been through the disaster plan, you need to be ready within your own business. What do you rely on? Do you have key procedures? Write them down now. Keep a copy at your business and another off-site. Back up your computer files and store them off-site.
Educate - Develop a written procedure to stay in touch with your employees and community. Make sure your staff knows exactly what they should do.
Appreciate your employees every day - Not only will you experience a more pleasant workplace, but in a time of crisis your employees will pay you back with their loyalty.
Drill for disasters - If you don’t, panic will set in. You will revert to what is familiar–the day-to-day routine you’ve always done–not what you should be doing in a disaster.
You - For businesses, it comes down to you-each individual and each employer. Take responsibility for all your actions. Plan ahead and be part of the recovery solution.
posted by Angi @ 11:16 AM
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