Disaster Recovery Essentials for Chicagoland Business Owners

Property Restoration

Running a business in Chicagoland comes with many challenges, including the unpredictable nature of the region’s legendarily wild weather. 

Whether it’s a severe storm, a burst pipe, a fire, or even a biohazard situation, unexpected events can disrupt operations and cause financial losses. As a business owner, having a disaster recovery plan in place is crucial for protecting your assets, employees, and long-term success.

From the harsh winters that can bring crippling snowstorms and frozen pipes, to the intense summer thunderstorms that spawn flash floods and power outages, the region is incredibly volatile. 

For Chicagoland businesses, building a robust recovery plan isn’t just a good idea — it’s an essential investment in your company’s sustainability.

The First Step: Risk Assessment

According to Ready.gov, “a risk assessment is a process used to identify potential hazards and analyze what could happen if a disaster or property-damaging event occurs. There are numerous risks to consider, and each occurrence could have many possible scenarios happening within or because of it.”

Evaluate which business functions are most critical and how their disruption would impact your operations. Different industries have different priorities: a restaurant might prioritize food safety and refrigeration during power outages, while a financial services firm might focus on data security and customer account access.

There are several key elements to thoroughly evaluating the havoc your enterprise may potentially face:

  • Financial calamity 
  • Loss of sensitive data
  • Loss of communications 
  • Supply chain disruption 
  • Reputational damage
  • Bodily harm to staff and customers
  • Legal liabilities
  • Prioritization: It’s vital to do your due diligence and determine the likelihood of various threats to gain insight into the appropriate preventative measures and resource allocation.

For Chicagoland businesses in particular, the interconnected nature and sheer size of our regional economy mean that disruptive events can ripple through supply and service networks as well as your clients’ and employees’ homes. 

Your company may depend on local vendors and partners who are experiencing the same disaster conditions, compounding recovery challenges.

Once you’ve completed this comprehensive assessment, you’ll have the tools and knowledge you need to create an effective disaster recovery framework.

Writing and Testing a Business Continuity Plan

Develop a clear and concise plan outlining the immediate steps to be taken in the event of a disaster. This should include evacuation procedures, emergency contact information, and protocols for notifying employees and customers.

Data Backup and Recovery: Implement a robust data backup and recovery strategy to protect critical data. This should include regular backups, offsite storage, and a plan for restoring data in the event of a system failure.

Communication Plan: Establish a clear communication plan to keep employees, customers, and stakeholders informed during and after a disaster. This should include multiple communication channels, such as email, phone, and social media.

Facility Protection: Take steps to protect your physical location(s) from damage. This may include installing flood barriers, reinforcing windows, and ensuring that valuable equipment is elevated or protected from water damage.

Insurance Review: Regularly review your insurance policies to ensure that they provide adequate coverage for potential disasters. Consider business interruption insurance, which can help cover lost income during a shutdown.


Vendor and Supplier Relationships: Maintain strong relationships with key vendors and suppliers to ensure that you can access essential resources and services during a disaster.

Employee Training and Drills: Regularly train employees on the disaster recovery plan and conduct drills to test its effectiveness. Ensure all employees know their roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency.

Additionally, staff should be trained on first-response actions, such as shutting off water valves during leaks or using fire extinguishers appropriately.

Partner with a Trusted Disaster Recovery Firm

A majority (68%) of small-business owners don’t have a written disaster recovery plan — even though about half (49 percent) said it would take their business at least three months to recover from a natural disaster, according to Nationwide’s Small Business Indicator.

Ensure your business is prepared for anything by establishing a relationship with the trustworthy team at PuroClean of Evanston. We understand the unique weather patterns, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and regulatory requirements of the region, and we’re here to help the region’s entrepreneurs come back as quickly as possible.

The PuroClean Emergency Management Plan (EMP) is designed for commercial clients who are seeking to improve their readiness. In addition to emergency planning for all types of events, the program also offers risk management and assessment. We can help you effectively manage unexpected events and minimize the impact on your business, your property, and your customers.

Plan With Confidence

Disaster recovery planning is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Regularly review and update your plan to reflect changes in technology, the marketplace, and the environment, and conduct periodic drills and exercises to ensure that your team is prepared to respond effectively.

Proactive strategizing is a necessity for your continued success. By understanding the risks and developing a comprehensive plan, smart business owners can minimize the impact of disasters and ensure long-term resilience.

Safeguard their operations and protect your assets by partnering with the experts at PuroClean — reach out to us today!

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