Hi Reader,

Last week we had the first tornado warning in Manhattan and the second in New York City that I can recall.

There was horrible air quality from the Canadian wildfires as well as torrential rains with their accompanying flood warnings the week before.

Right now, Spain and France are suffering devastating wildfires and heat waves.

I've written before about disaster preparedness, but I really want to drive home the need to think about and plan for the potential impact of natural or manmade disasters because, in the moment, you're going to have a lot of other things on your mind and your plate.

Here are 3 things to do now to prepare yourself and your team if disaster does strike:

Conduct an honest risk assessment

• Consider the likely scenarios that could affect your community (flooding, power outages, wildfires, etc.) and figure out how each may impact you, your people, and your physical environments, whether you run your business from home, from anywhere, or from a brick and mortar location.
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  ​Check out ready.gov and see what resources your local government offers to support disaster preparedness and risk assessment.

Create your priority checklists

• When disaster hits, the last thing you want to do is figure what you need to do first, second, third, etc. So, do that now. You'll likely need a checklist for each type of disaster.
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  If you work with others, you'll want to make these easily available and accessible. It's a good idea to review them with your team on a regular basis to ensure they know exactly what to do and to reduce their anxiety in the moment.
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  ​The US Small Business Administration provides preparedness checklists you can download and use as a starting point for your business.

Compile your emergency contacts

• This may sound simple, but maybe it's not as simple as you think. Consider all the services you rely on that may be impacted by disaster in your area (and in theirs), your clients, your vendors. Get the contact information for city/state/federal agencies that respond to disasters and emergencies and provide relief.
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  Of course, you also want the direct contact information for your insurance providers, financial institutions, employees, contractors, landlords, and so on.
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  ​Make sure your list is accessible online as well as off because you never know whether your cell service, power, and/or internet will be available.

I know contemplating this stuff isn't fun and can get overwhelming quickly. If you'd like some help mapping it all out and putting it all together, please reach out to me.

Until next time,

PS—If you missed it, last month I shared what happens When AI Actually Works.

PPS—More on disaster preparedness: Hope for the Best, Timing Is Almost Everything, Cover Me, Cover You​
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The perfect catalyst for transformative growth Lauren's unique blend of insights, motivation, and guidance create an environment primed for transformation. She helped me access new levels of clarity and drive to move my business forward while feeling confident throughout. —Olena Tsiganok, President, Olenka's LLC Explore opportunities to work together

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