The Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op suffered major fire damage after a September 7, 2010 blaze broke out in the northwest corner of the building, causing smoke andwater damage throughout the facility. As a result, the food processing facility will be closed during the remediation process. The cause of the fire is unknown.
“The Lucknow Sentinel” reports the roofing system will be changed and cleaned because of smoke damage. The Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op’s board of directors have opened a temporary retail store and offices during the clean-up. Additionally, those who previously worked in the damaged plant have new responsibilities to help clean and repair the facility so they do not suffer a loss of income.
Aside from the obvious consequences of the fire, the disaster was also detrimental to business matters. It is reported that the Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op was working towards sealing a deal with retail giant Wal-Mart and was preparing for the holiday season before the incident. Now these matters are forced to be on the backburner until the plant is operational again.
Like the Pine River Cheese and Butter Co-op, it is important that companies have a business disaster plan should the unthinkable ever happen. The disaster preparations should include a plan to recover and a business continuity plan so business operations can still take place. The recovery process, however, is not just about fixing a damaged building. It also includes plans to restore wet documents and remediate mold damage.
A fish warehouse-World Seafood Processing–in South Boston was destroyed by a fire that broke-out on Saturday. Other businesses affected include a seafood restaurant, small office, and store.
It is estimated the damages amount to $2-million or more. The four-alarm fire took about 3 hours and 120 firefighters to extinguish. The cause of the fire is still not known. Nobody was severely injured.
The owners of the building were in their office when they awoke to a loud noise and the smell of smoke. Realizing the situation called for professional help, the owners called 9-1-1. Some think the building will have to be torn down. The owners are now seeking a temporary location in which to do their work so they can continue their business with as little interruption as possible.
Business continuity is a big deal for a small business. The owners of the World Seafood Processing are rolling with the punches as they begin the recovery process.
Business owners are not the only ones who should think about how to be prepared for an emergency at work. The American Red Cross states: “If you commute to work, make sure you know alternative routes and carry appropriate supplies such as a disaster supplies kit in your car and a compact kit on public transportation…The best way to make sure you and your place of business is safe is to be prepared before disaster strikes.”
Even if you do not think you are in a disaster-prone area, many things can happen when least expected. A key thing to remember is that disaster recovery should begin before the disaster for the sake of business continuity. Just like one looks at risks from a financial and economical standpoint, one should also look at them from a physical point of view. Up to 25% of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster because they were not prepared with a plan. Not making an emergency plan is something your business should not risk. Here are some tips one may wish to include in their business emergency disaster plan:
A home in a Sacramento suburb exploded on Christmas Eve. Officials believe the explosion, which killed a man and injured five other people, was caused by a natural gas leak. It is not yet clear what ignited the gas. The home in which the explosion occurred was completely destroyed as the surrounding houses have been severely damaged.
The Associated Press reports 40 of the surrounding homes in the neighborhood were voluntarily evacuated as a safety precaution. Pacific Gas & Electric crews had been called into the neighborhood a day prior to the incident after residents reported smelling gas. The UPI NewsTrack states: “A PG&E spokesman said the crews could not shut off gas in an isolated area until they determined the exact location of the leak.”
Officials later returned to the neighborhood on Christmas day after residents reported smelling a gas leak. It was determined the second gas leak was caused by a propane tank, which was then sealed.
The National Transportation Safety Board, rather than PG&E, is investigating the cause of the initial, devastating gas leak as the gas pipelines run beneath the streets.
