If a large-scale earthquake or fire were to rock the Central Coast, would your business be able to survive?
In the wake of the Gulf Coast hurricanes, businesses on the Central Coast seeking to answer that question are reviewing their disaster plans. Some owners and managers are soliciting the help of local fire departments to make certain that employees are safe and buildings secure.
All types of businesses -- small and large -- should prepare for a disaster and be able to survive without the help of emergency personnel, said San Luis Obispo City Fire Capt. Rik Grencik, who also directs the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.
"We ask the question, 'If you called 911 and it was busy, what would you do?' " he said.
Some businesses already have plans in place.
French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo has training for staff every three months and is holding a natural disaster preparedness class today.
"We basically come up with an emergency scenario, play it out and see how well we do," said Shara Smith, the hospital's director of emergency services.
For some businesses, their wake-up call came in December 2003 when the San Simeon Earthquake rocked and destroyed dozens of businesses in the North County.
Pan Jewelers in Paso Robles -- forced to move to a new location after the temblor -- has evacuation plans for its employees and customers, said June Ellart, store manager.
"We always knew it was important," she said. "But, we're a lot more aware since (the San Simeon Earthquake.)"
Pacific Gas and Electric trains its staff to be prepared for an emergency while at work but also at home, said spokeswoman Sharon Gavin.
"We advise our employees to have a backpack ready with items to hold them over for a few days," she said.
The utility conducts weekly tests and trains its staff on a regular basis at its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
Some employers, such as SESLOC Credit Union, The Villages, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and the Economic Opportunity Commission, have sent employees to programs like CERT.
Organizations can prepare at work by figuring out what they would do to be ready at home, says Grencik.
"Think about what you'd want to protect at your own home," he said. "Then figure out what is it going to take to keep your business intact."
He advises businesses to have contingency plans for keeping back-up data, methods to keep the business running and training procedures for employees on emergency preparedness.
Embassy Suites Hotel in San Luis Obispo holds regular sessions for its department managers who train their employees, said General Manager Shawn Milburn.
"We've had the fire department come out and do some training in the parking lot," he said. "We continue to fine-tune our plans."
Even so, many businesses put off creating an emergency plan, Grencik said.
Morris & Garritano, a San Luis Obispo insurance company has evacuation plans, as well as plans if computers crash. But more could be done, said office manager Norma Crow.
"It's been put on the back burner," she said. "But, after seeing how devastated things were (in the Gulf Coast), a lot more people have it on their mind."
Distributed by the Associated Press
