Tampa, FL – May 24, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced the release of its new Open for Business® Online Trainer and Advanced Track sessions, a Web-based continuity planning tool for small businesses available exclusively to IBHS members.
“Operating a business leaves little time to devote to planning ahead for a disaster that may never strike,” said Diana McClure, business resiliency program manager for IBHS. “But everything from a natural catastrophe to a power outage or storeroom flood could force a business to close its doors. Anything that disrupts operations can mean big trouble for the bottom line or competitive advantage, especially for small businesses.”
Composed of nine short multimedia sessions, the Online Trainer guides users through the Open for Business® planning tool to develop a customized property protection and business continuity plan, which is then stored online for future reference and updating. The Online Trainer includes six new Open for Business® Advanced Track sessions.
The new sessions are designed to help small business owners:
· plan for an interruption in supply chains;
· conduct risk and vulnerability assessments for their business;
· plan for procurement, allocation and deployment of resources;
· create a financial strategy for business resiliency;
· manage an incident and develop a crisis communication plan; and
· train employees in implementing the final business continuity plan.
Each session offers something new to learn and something new to complete. These sessions are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“The Open for Business® Online Trainer is a simple, intelligent and practical business continuity strategy with written plans that can help minimize the negative impacts of a disastrous event,” McClure said.
Learn more about Open for Business® Online at http://www.disastersafety.org/text.asp?id=ofb_online.
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IBHS is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization supported by the property insurance industry. The organization works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.
Contact:
Joseph King (813) 675-1045
jking (at) ibhs (dot) org
Twitter: disastersafety
