Nine Steps to Improve How Your Business Manages Blackouts

For many of us, summer means three things:Heat, Storms, and Blackouts. You might feel like you know how to handle such an event: grab a flashlight and proceed to wait, periodically checking your smartphone.  But, hang on- who called to report the outage, and determine the time to repair? Did someone post a notice and alert customers who may be expecting you to be available? Did the doors get locked? Read on for nine easy steps to enhance your existing blackout management plan.

Prove That You’re Pros and Impress Your Customers.

If you don't have a plan in place and your staff are untrained in handling a blackout or other outage, you're losing face in the eyes of your customers. When they're knocking on the door because a sign wasn't posted, they're spending time waiting- and getting frustrated. When one of your team members gives them a deer-in-the-headlights look and says "sorry, power's out..." with no useful information like "but it should be back in two hours! Want us to give you a call?" you just gave them the impression that you're a bunch of amateurs.

Create a simple checklist, and post it in a prominent spot- who to contact, what signs to post and where, doors and safes to lock, things to power off, and deal with any other specifics to your organization. Then spend an hour talking about it with your team. Make sure they know there's a checklist, where to find a copy, and who will be in charge- including who the backup is if they're not around!

Prepare and train for outages and you won’t just improve safety- your customers will notice and appreciate it.

How To Do It:

Before a Blackout

• Get familiar with the steps to take in an outage- shut down computers, report the outage to your utility, turn off appliances and lights, post or send notice to customers, and operating any backup power generators. Make a checklist to ensure they happen in a real outage! 
• Keep containers filled with water in refrigerators and freezers. Leave at least an inch of space inside each container- frozen water needs extra space. The water will keep your fridge contents cooler for longer.
• Keep your generator’s tank full, because the gas station just down the road isn’t going to be functioning. Keep your generator well-maintained, as a generator that’s running poorly can break down or overheat, becoming a fire hazard!

During a Blackout

• Use flashlights for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout. Fire...bad!
• Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment and electronics in use when the power went out. Power often returns with "surges” or “spikes” that will damage computers electric motors.
• Listen to local radio for updated information.
• Leave a light switched on! It’ll tell you when power has been restored.

After a Blackout

• Toss out food that was exposed to temperatures above 40° F for 2 hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out!
• Resupply your emergency kit, batteries, fuel, and other consumables as necessary. Do this right away, while it’s top of mind!

 Do you have a contingency or disaster recovery plan in place today for your business? If not, get in touch with us or speak to your current partner! Our security experts will walk you through designing and implementing a world-class solution- one that fits within your budget and makes sense for your organization.

Until next time,

Stefan Dorn, CISSP