Business Emergency Preparedness

Disasters can take many forms and the financial cost of rebuilding after a disaster can be overwhelming. If you’re prepared for emergencies, you’ll be in a better position to recover and continue operations should disaster strike.

Be Prepared

 Step 1: Assess your risk

Every business has unique vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Knowing which disasters are most likely to affect your business can help you to return to operations faster. A back-to-business self-assessment can help you to assess your risks for common hazards such as wildfires, flooding, earthquakes or even cyberattacks. Assess your risk by reviewing Prepared BC’s Small Business Guide and Guide for Tourism Operators for preparing for an emergency:

Step 2: Create a plan

Your response plan is your roadmap to recovery, so it should be tailored to your business’s specific needs and operations.  It should address immediate priorities and be easy to access.  Prepared BC’s Small Business Emergency Plans are an effective resource to help you develop a plan for your business:

Step 3: Execute your plan

Practice your plan with your staff so you’re ready when an emergency occurs.

Evacuation and Financial Assistance

Emergency Evacuation Guidance

Depending on the severity of the situation, an Evacuation Alert or Order may be issued. It's important to understand the different stages.

  • Evacuation Alert: Be ready to leave on short notice
  • Evacuation Order: You are at risk. Leave the area immediately
  • Evacuation Rescinded: All is currently safe and you can return to your home and business

To be ready, know your hazards and follow Prepared BC's guides to prepare yourself, family, home, and business in case an evacuation is ordered. Familiarize yourself with the information on Prepared BC's Evacuation Guide for the Public page in advance of a disaster. 

Financial Assistance and Other Recovery Resources

After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for disaster financial assistance (DFA). 

After evacuation, these recovery programs and services may be helpful.