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Unfortunately, small businesses are usually very poorly equipped to handle major disasters such as fires, floods, and storms. Small business owners often have enough on their plate without having to worry about planning for a natural or man-made disaster. According to a recent poll by the National Federation of Independent Business, almost forty percent of small businesses experience disaster at some time; ten percent man-made and thirty percent natural. But what steps can you, a small business owner, take to ensure a man-made or natural disaster doesn’t mean the end of your business? The answer to that is simple; develop a disaster recovery plan, and develop it now.

If you’re like most small business owners, your company is your livelihood. Protecting your organization and all that it takes to run it is critical. Oftentimes, much effort goes into crisis prevention, but little is done to plan for recovery. Below, you’ll find useful tips and information to help your small business not only prevent but recover from one of the most common and devastating disasters a company can suffer: fire.

Some of the things that business owners don’t expect in regards to natural disasters are the direct economic losses that follow an incident. These losses are multiplied for those who aren’t properly prepared. By knowing what type of problems to expect after a disaster, natural disaster recovery can be a smoother, faster and a more cost-effective process.

When you work in the hospitality industry, guest satisfaction should not be alone at the top of your list of priorities; no doubt that guest safety and comfort are at the top of the list, too. The most common incidents that warrant property damage restoration in the industry include water damage and fires. From natural disasters to malfunctioning sprinklers to flames produced by burned popcorn in a microwave, knowing how to prepare and recover from damage will help keep everyone safe and keep your doors open to guests with minimal downtime.

Just as you use a smartphone to receive emails and news updates, your disaster preparedness plan can go mobile, too. Your cell phone or tablet may serve as a lifeline or a way to communicate with employees, execute response plans and connect with family members during any stage of a disaster. As most mobile networks often remain active when landlines are down, you may be able to learn more about a situation using cellular data networks or available Wi-Fi hotspots. With the right preparation, mobile technology serves as an effective resource that you can integrate into a disaster preparedness plan to keep recovery efforts moving forward.