According to the Association of Records Managers and Administration, about 60 percent of businesses that experience a major disaster such as a fire close within two years. According to Labor Department statistics, over 40 percent of all companies that experience a disaster never reopen and more than 25 percent of those that do reopen close within two years.  Regardless of planning and preparation, even the businesses that survive a disaster fall short of their desired recovery objectives.

When faced with a fire, flood, earthquake or other unfortunate incident, many organizations become so overwhelmed by the “Crisis, Chaos and Confusion” of their situation that they make decisions based on misguided or uninformed interests.   You may only have one opportunity to choose the right road to recovery – so it’s paramount to understand the motives, experiences and personalities of each person that you’ll rely on as you attempt to restore order to your organization.

Tip #1 – It’s YOUR Company, YOUR equipment and YOUR livelihood that’s on the line.  Don’t let ANYONE outside your organization make decisions for you!

Most likely, your primary contacts (outside your own organization) that you will be consulting will be your Insurance Adjuster and a Restoration Company.  On large losses involving severe structural damage and/or complex operational issues, the Adjuster may also engage the services of specialized Consultants, Accountants and/or Salvage Companies.  Unless you’ve already experienced a disaster, you’ve probably never dealt with any of them before.

TRS was specifically created to assist organizations stricken by unfortunate events make informed decisions and execute effective plans throughout the assessment and recovery process.  From providing basic damage mitigation advice to full deployment of a project management team experienced all aspects of the recovery process; TRS is YOUR “go-to” resource center when disaster strikes.

Tip #2 – Take inventory and explore your options.  Make sure that you fix only what needs to be fixed… Exercise your option to NOT restore equipment (but take the cash instead)!

The proliferation of technology into the workplace has its downside.  Only when faced with a disaster do most organizations begin to appreciate just how reliant they are on their electronic equipment and machinery assets.  While many organizations have adequate plans in place to restore their communications and data processing operations by utilizing off-site vendors, they fail to recognize the significance of the equipment hardware and machinery remaining at the disaster site.

Unfortunately, the effects of smoke or water contamination to electronic equipment and machinery is not readily identified or addressed by employing common janitorial cleaning of the affected areas or units.  Most fires produce corrosive combustion by-products intermixed with the smoke particulate.  Water also can leave residual impurities that can damage sensitive electronic and mechanical components.  While a cursory cleaning may provide immediate resumption of equipment use, the residual contamination of critical electronic/mechanical components has the tendency to degrade the unit and cause future failures and/or intermittent operational problems.

Tip #3 – Talk to an Expert at TRS to determine whether you have a situation that warrants professional assistance.

Time is of the essence – The sooner that the affected systems are addressed by someone familiar with equipment exposed to potentially corrosive/damaging residues, the more chance you have to realize maximum recovery. At minimum, determine whether you have a situation that warrants professional assistance.  The experts at TRS would be happy to provide you (free of charge) an initial telephone consultation.

 

Tip #4 – Carefully consider all actual and potential conflict of interests as you seek advice and make business decisions.

Equipment manufacturers are in the business of SELLING new equipment, distributers try to liquidate whatever product they have in inventory and restoration contractors want to deploy as many resources to your site as they can legitimately justify.  Some Adjusters simply are focused more on closing the file in the short-term than how the recovery process may impact the organization in the long-term.  It often appears that everyone is posturing for their own gain, without little concern or regard for the affected organization.