Disaster Recovery Tip #17: Tornado Preparedness

The Path of Destruction.

Deadly tornadoes continue to take the nation by storm splintering communities, homes and businesses in the south. Currently Agility is responding to 15 disaster declarations and has over 200 members on alert across five states. The Storm Prediction Center reported 155 tornadoes across the US on Wednesday. This sets a new record for April tornadoes, bringing the total to over 800.

The death toll from the storms that punished six Southern states jumped to a staggering 249 with 131 casualties in Alabama alone. Click here to watch the Mayor of Tuscaloosa, AL weigh in on the aftermath of Wednesday’s storms. Agility has compiled tools and resources to make sure your business, and more importantly, your employees are armed and ready for any disaster thrown your way.

• Click here to download Agility’s Tornado Preparedness Checklist.
• Click here for an interactive severe weather alert map in your area.
• With hurricane season only 35 days away, Agility has teamed up with The Weather Channel Tropical Forecast team’s Senior Meteorologist, Ben Papandrea of WSI to bring you a free webinar on May 25th, “Protecting Your Business This Hurricane Season”. Click here to register.

Contact
Mike Estey, Area Director at Agility Recovery Solutions
Telephone: (603) 660-2455
Fax: (800) 536-4237
Visit the Agility Recovery Solutions web site.

Disaster Recovery Tip #16: Tornado Preparedness Checklist for Your Business

Battling the Elements.

As severe weather blankets the United States with extreme wind, water and fire, we are reminded that no state is immune to natural disasters. Within the last week alone, we have seen fires engulf Texas, tornadoes whip through 15 states and historic flooding in North Dakota. Click here to see pictures from the NY Times.

Although all natural disasters are devastating, tornadoes are often viewed as nature’s most violent storms; they can strike in an instant and leave as quickly as they come. The recent tornado outbreak spanned from Oklahoma to North Carolina claimed 43 lives. A Lowe’s Home Improvement store in North Carolina was demolished and if it weren’t for their emergency response plan, dozens of lives would have been at stake. Click to hear more about this moving story.

With the unpredictable nature of tornadoes, it is vital to prepare now. Agility has compiled a Tornado Preparedness Checklist to help you prepare your business and protect your people.

Click here to download Agility’s Tornado Preparedness Checklist

Contact
Mike Estey, Area Director at Agility Recovery Solutions
Telephone: (603) 660-2455
Fax: (800) 536-4237
Visit the Agility Recovery Solutions web site.

Disaster Recovery Tip #15: Leading with Resiliency During a Disaster

President’s Orders

President Obama recently signed a national-security directive intended to strengthen the way theUnited Statesresponds to national disasters, terrorist attacks and pandemics. The directive refocuses government resources on mitigation—preventing catastrophes from getting worse—and resilience—how communities actively respond and recover from disasters.

There is a shared responsibility when it comes to our nation’s level of preparedness; and to be truly prepared,America’s businesses must lead the charge.

Next Tuesday, Agility and the Small Business Administration are hosting a free educational webinar entitled, “Leading with Resiliency During a Disaster.” Former FEMA Administrator, Chief David Paulison will share his strategies on leadership before, during and after a disaster.

• Click here to register for the Agility/SBA webinar, “Leading with Resiliency During a Disaster.”
• Click here to learn more about the new National Preparedness Security Directive.

Contact
Mike Estey, Area Director at Agility Recovery Solutions
Telephone: (603) 660-2455
Fax: (800) 536-4237
Visit the Agility Recovery Solutions web site.

Free Webinar April 28, 2011 – The Importance of Sleep for Safety at Work

AllOne Health Resources, the Association-sponsored Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), is offering an interesting Webinar on managing sleep. Lack of sleep and poor quality sleep are recognized as an important health and safety concerns of employers. AllOne has some interesting suggestions for you and your employees in this free 1-hour program on Thursday, April 28, at 1:00 p.m.

Contact:
Robert E. Messing
Director of Administration, Group Insurance Services
MassachusettsBankers Association
One Washington Mall, 8th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02108-2603
Tel. (617) 523-7595

Disaster Recovery Tip #14: The First Step in Continuity Planning

Teamwork.

There is power in numbers. This is particularly true when it comes to business continuity planning. In fact, many believe that building a business continuity team is the most critical step in the planning process.

Most successful planning teams have several traits in common:

• Management Participation: Like any companywide initiative, getting management involved early will help with adoption and implementation of plans and procedures. If management isn’t involved, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle.
• Key Department Representation: Your business continuity plan will have far reaching implications. Getting the perspective of key departments is essential to a well-rounded plan.
• Diligence & Discipline: Business continuity plans are living documents. As your company grows and evolves, so should your continuity plan. Your team must continually review, test and update your plan.
• Checks & Balances: A team comprised of individuals from different departments is essential to create a well rounded recovery plan. In addition, if you are not available in the event of an interruption, there is built in redundancy.
• Action Oriented: Don’t get caught in analysis paralysis. It’s easy to get bogged down in details and nuances. (This insight was the inspiration for Agility’s ReadySuite solution.) If you’re just starting the process, put a basic plan in place first and figure out the details over time.

Contact
Mike Estey, Area Director at Agility Recovery Solutions
Telephone: (603) 660-2455
Fax: (800) 536-4237
Visit the Agility Recovery Solutions web site.

ABA Insurance Services New Coverage Announcement

Social Networking Coverage Enhancement to be included in Internet Banking Liability Policies. 

When Internet/Cyber liability policies were introduced in the late 1990s, email was the primary e-communication tool at the time. It was not until recent years that online forums such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn exploded onto the scene, becoming key components of advertising and communication efforts of many banks.

Due to the evolution of cyberspace and technology, not all Internet policies address the newly emerging exposures associated with “social media” and “social networking.

”Banks are venturing down this path to market their products and communicate in “real time” with customers. To address this newly emerging exposure, we are pleased to announce our NEW Social Networking Endorsement available at no additional charge to our Internet Banking Liability policy.

The new endorsement covers claims made by or on behalf of customers or regulatory agencies. It also includes coverage for Regulatory Correction Expenses such as regulatory fines or fees incurred as a result of a bank’s social networking activities.

The endorsement will automatically be added to existing Internet Banking Liability policies upon receipt of state approvals.

To learn more, contact ABA Insurance Services at 800-274-5222 or marketing@abais.com.

To view the entire ABA Insurance Services SafeTalk newsletter for March 2011, click on the link SafeTalk.Mar2011.

Disaster Recovery Tip #13: Are you Resilient?

How do you define “Resiliency?”

In our industry we talk a lot about resiliency. The subject is typically broken into two categories:

1. A resilient business: The ability to keep your business operating under virtually any condition.
2. A resilient leader: A person who is able to respond effectively and efficiently during disruptive events.

So how do you address “resiliency” within your organization? Unfortunately, there’s no quick or easy answer, but a great way to start is to listen to the experts. Agility has two upcoming webinars that will address both subjects head-on.

4/6: Business Survival: Disaster Recovery and Continuity Basics. Free webinar presented by Bob Boyd, Agility’s president and CEO. Learn about Agility’s ReadySuite solution, how to minimize potential interruptions and implement an effective disaster recovery plan.
Click here to register.

4/13: Leading with Resiliency During a Disaster. Our free Educational Webinar Series continues with a discussion led by former FEMA Administrator, Chief David Paulison. Chief Paulison will draw on his experiences after taking over as leader of FEMA following one of the greatest disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina. Listen to him share his take on proper leadership and strategies for becoming a more resilient leader. Click here to register.

Contact
Mike Estey, Area Director at Agility Recovery Solutions
Telephone: (603) 660-2455
Fax: (800) 536-4237
Visit the Agility Recovery Solutions web site.