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Show B6 CLIPPER TODAY SUNDAY EVENING OCTOB R WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 31,1999 Businesses gain disaster preparation advice BY BOB MKXELSON Clipper Today Staff Writer In its coverCENTERVILLE news tends television of disasters age to focus on the impacts to the civil population, how many homes lost, and, of course, how many lives lost. But. disasters also impact businesses, putting them out of operation for. sometimes, just a few hours or days and. other times, forever. The difference between businesses that survive and go and those that founder and fail, is often due to the amount of preparations owners are willing to undertake in advance. That was the message offered during last Wednesday's Project Impact luncheon by Centerville City and the South Davis Chamber of Commerce. Centerville, as noted by keynote speaker Randy Passey, director of marketing for Utah Disaster Kleenup. has had its share of disasters in the past. Floods and mud slides have occurred throughout its history and powerful east winds are an annual occurrence. Earthquake remains a constant threat, and this summer's startling Salt Lake tornado proves even that is not beyond the realm of possibility. Natural disasters are only part of the picture, however. With a major transand portation and trade routes like the UP&L railroad lines running by. major accidents and toxic spills have to be considered as well. So. first and foremost, the message Passey wanted to convey to his audience of local business owners and government officials was, It can happen here. Apparently, that thought had not occurred to a lot of business owners in Kobe, Japan. Following a massive earthquake there. 25 percent of its businesses closed their doors. By the time a year had passed. 25 percent more had joined them. The formation of a Business Recovery Plan can help a business avoid the same fate. The purpose of such a plan is to first protect lives then minimize property loss and maintain business continuity. But. before one can really concentrate on his or her business, they need to know things are secure on the home EVENING 3,1999 front. Take care of what's most important in your life first!' he stated. Train, prepare and safeguard your families. On the job. it's a matter of determining just how a business can be hurt or, where it is vulnerable. Preventing possible damage to the building should be part of the plan, but many times a business owner has no control ov er that That's why Passey advised businesses consider a plan to relocate, at least temporarily, if need be. It can be tough to get a business going after a disaster, but. according to Passey, it can be even tougher to keep it going. Businesses need resources to operate, he explained, and owners have to make sure reliable sources or suppliers are av ailable, even before they're needed. Necessary resources can also include all pertinent employee information. A little thing like having all employees' phone numbers can pay off big Employees can also be part of the emergency management team which will test and implement the plan once it is drawn up and conduct drills to familiarize fellow workers with it Don't worry if something goes wrong with the plan when you test iC Passey said. That's the best time to correct it While Passey handed out a tot of helpful materials to those attending the luncheon, he realized many other business owners in Centerville and from other communities were unable to attend. I would suggest those interested contact the Association of Contingency Planners, he noted. Perhaps the best way to do that is through its website acp.utah.com. It lists upcoming meetings and how they can obtain further information. Schools in potential 'crash zone1 at HAFB , : ; . ; : ; ; : LAYTON ( AP) A private grade e school and a center will be left inside a potential crash zone at Hill Air Force Base despite a govem-- ; ment buyout program. Humpty Dumpty Haven, a day care, and Helquist Academy, a private grade school on 2000 North in Layton, sit near one end of Hill s main runway. The schools are incompatible" with a state program that aims to lower crash risks by designating safety zones around the military airport. But the schools are grandfa-- i thered or protected from eviction, The Salt Lake Tribune reported in a copyrighted story. Lou Ann Helquist, who owns the school property, said she has been aware of the safety classification for years but maintains there are more accidents outside than inside the zone. day-car- WEEKDAY AFTERNOONS I i |