Posted:
Monday, December 7, 2009 2:39 pm
Following an
electrical fire that broke out in the restroom of the local Heart of Tennessee
Chapter early Sunday morning, the Red Cross would like to remind other
businesses to prepare for disasters. The fire was contained within the restroom
but destroyed the ceiling and damaged the restroom causing the chapter to shut
down Blood Services from collecting blood for two days.
“We were very
fortunate the fire wasn’t any worse because it could have caused some major
damage,” said Red Cross CEO Greg King. “Local businesses should definitely have
a plan in place of how to continue operations after a disaster such as a fire,
flood or tornado.”
Businesses should not risk operating without a disaster
plan. While reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not
reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake. These
shattered businesses were unprepared for a disaster and they had no plan or
backup systems.
A disaster
plan should consider three subjects: human resources, physical resources, and
business continuity.
“So often we respond to fires in the community that
it was a role reversal when the fire was actually in our building, “King said. “Our
Continuity of Operations Plan, helped us respond quickly with minimal
interruption to our operations.”
For additional
information and a brochure about how to develop business continuity plan as
well as other resources contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter via e-mail at chapter@hot-redcross.org.
The
Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross provides vital emergency
assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon,
Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained
nearly 15,000 people in CPR & First Aid, Babysitting and Aquatics training,
and provided pre-deployment briefings and emergency communications for over 640
active duty military personnel and their families. Over 13,177 pints of
information please call 615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org.life-saving
blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are
made possible by over 320 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as
through generous gifts from
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/red-cross-suffers-fire-issues-caution-for-others-cms-20797
