Short-Range Restoration

The Short-Range Restoration Period begins a few days after a disaster and stretches several weeks, depending on the extent of the damage. Restoration activities focus on repair to slightly and moderately damaged structures. In general, they return the area to a relatively normal and economically viable state as services and utilities are restored and debris removal continues. More detailed surveys of damage continue. State and Federal disaster relief resources are distributed to victims needing assistance, such as temporary housing, loans, grants, food coupons, and legal/crisis counseling. Restoration of all public utilities takes place and reconstruction of damaged housing, commercial, industrial and public facilities begins.

Damage Assessment Operations continue. For business, contact should be made with your insurance agent and licensed contractors for any necessary facility repairs and replacement of equipment, furniture and inventory. Restoration of communications and information services is top priority.
Identification/ Passes - Each county has its own plan and procedures for re-entry after an evacuation / emergency situation. Some counties have instituted systems which include passes, bumper /windshield stickers or other means of identification. At the very least, your employees will need some sort of documentation that states their name, position and organization or agency with photo identification. If it is crucial that your employees get back to the work facility as soon as deemed safe by local officials, it is recommended that you contact your county emergency management agency and determine what documentation will be necessary to allow your employees to gain access into an affected area or your facility. For security reasons, it may be very beneficial to invest in ID badges, especially if you need to restrict access into your facility. Following Hurricane Andrew, many companies found that employees wearing company shirts with logos provided an additional security check from a distance. This can be important especially, if someone is removing equipment or supplies from your building.
Implement the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), if required. Based on the damage assessment report and the expected level of disruption, you may need to implement the COOP plan and either establish an alternate facility, transfer (outsource) mission essential functions to a third party and/or activate a telework option. Based on the damage assessment and estimate of time needed for repairs and restoration of services, implement the appropriate procedures to ensure that your mission essential functions are restored within the necessary timeframe. The alternatives should be identified in the Business Continuity Plan and be ready for such an event.
Restoration of Services - It may take 2 to 4 weeks before utilities are restored. If your operations are dependent on a power supply and/or communications, you will need to bring in alternate power supply and communications equipment, i.e. generator, radios, cell phones, etc. These issues should be addressed, contractors identified and provisions made before a disaster occurs.
Employee Support - Employers and employees rely on each other after a disaster. Businesses should define a range of services that it can provide or arrange for, including:

Cash advances,
Salary continuation,
Flexible or reduced work hours,
Telework,
Crisis Counseling, and
Dependent care.

Payroll & Cash Advances

If you want to ensure your employees have the resources to make repairs, take care of dependents and report back to work; as a business owner, you need to ensure your employees continue to receive paychecks. You must first consider your policies for payroll, especially if you are not open for a significant period of time. Depending on the circumstances — and if you want to retain your employees — policies should be developed which at least provide a minimum salary level even if you have an interruption in operations. The second step is then to make arrangements to continue to meet your payroll given a lack of power and/or loss of data.

How is the payroll schedule going to be met?
Will direct deposits be available?
If computer functionality is down, how will employees be issued checks?
Who is allowed to pick-up employee payroll checks? Consider developing an authorization form for non-relative payroll check pick-up.
Where can the payroll checks be cashed? Consider having a pre-established arrangement with a local bank for employee payroll check and personal check cashing.
Can the business provide emergency cash advances with payroll deductions?
How will emergency cash advances be processed?

Flexible/Reduced Work Hours/Telework

If the emergency or disaster affects the community as well as the business, employees may need flexibility and support from management in order to take care of added responsibilities at home as well as at work. There may be insurance agents or contractors to meet, dependents to care for or cleanup to accomplish. Typically, a little understanding in times of emergency is well rewarded in lower employee turnover and increased loyalty. Consider reduced or flexible work hours or, if appropriate and feasible, telework options.