by Page Michel, San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce President
Most business owners have a plan for growth. They have budgets, sales goals, staffing plans and ideas for the future. But what is your plan if tomorrow your business suddenly can’t operate?
September is National Preparedness Month, making this a good time to think about the unexpected. In Central Texas, we know emergencies can happen. Flash floods, extended power outages, and on the rise are disruptions and devastation by cyberattacks.
For a small business or nonprofit organization, the consequences can be especially serious. FEMA has reported that roughly 40% to 60% of small businesses never reopen following a disaster.
Preparedness can make the difference between a temporary interruption and permanent closure.
That’s why the San Marcos Area Chamber is partnering with the Hays County Office of Emergency Services to help our community be better prepared.
On Saturday, September 12, Hays County will host its 9th annual Emergency Preparedness Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at La Verde Park in Kyle. The event includes hands-on demonstrations for Stop the Bleed, CPR and fire extinguisher training, along with food trucks, music and other activities.
Then, on Thursday, October 8, the Chamber and Hays County Office of Emergency Services will host a “Crisis Management Planning” Workshop & Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hays County Elections Office in San Marcos.
The focus will be on business continuity: how to prepare now so your organization can respond quickly, protect employees and critical information, communicate with customers and employees, and get back to business as soon as possible.
The featured speaker is Diane Probst, who knows firsthand about managing through disaster. During her 32 years as President/CEO of the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, she led that organization and business community through Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath. She authored When the Storm Comes: Lessons Learned to share what she learned from that experience
Michael Rojas will also share resources from BeforeDuringAfter.com, a statewide initiative that helps Texas small businesses prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Rojas has supported more than 18 federally declared disaster responses throughout his career.
This October 8 workshop is designed to give participants the instruction and tools to create a customized crisis management plan for their own organization. Registration also includes a follow-up virtual session on November 4 to help participants complete and fine-tune their own plans.
“A crisis is not the time to figure out your plan,” said Page Michel, Chamber President & CEO. “Small businesses and organizations need to know in advance what steps to take, how to communicate, and how to keep essential operations moving. We want every business to be prepared, know what to do, and be in the best possible position to recover quickly.”
Registration, including lunch and the follow-up session, is $40 for San Marcos Chamber members; $50 for non-members. Register on the event page at SanMarcosTexas.com or contact chamber@sanmarcostexas.com or 512-393-5900 for assistance.