With tornado season behind us and hurricane season around the corner, it is important for companies to review or develop an emergency preparedness plan. Preparedness and prevention can help protect yourself, your employees, and your business in unplanned events or disasters. These tips can assist you in setting up an emergency plan.

• Know your risks. Be aware of inclement weather in your area as well as impending natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
• Assess your operations. Determine what your company's key functions are and figure out ways to continue those functions offsite if needed. Using Nextep's services will alleviate some of those functions such as payroll, health benefits, and workers' compensation.
• Keep in touch. Set up ways that you and employees can keep in touch during emergencies.
• Remember people with special needs. Ask for people with disabilities to assist in setting up your company's emergency plan so that their needs are prepared for as well. Designate helpers in case someone needs to be lifted or assisted down stairs. Plan ways to notify hearing-impaired employees who may not hear alarms.

Visit Ready.gov/business for more information on developing your company's emergency preparedness plan. The website also has a useful Sample Business Emergency Plan that walks the user through each step in developing a plan.