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.
The Emergency Email & Wireless Network is a service that is provided free of charge that will notify a person of emergencies in their area of choice. Notices are sent via email, text message, or fax.
Notifications one can become aware of include weather notices, Homeland Security information, Amber Alerts, health alerts, etc. If one wishes, they can also sign up to receive notifications of school closings, emergencies, and special events through the K12Email service. This service is secure and quick.
To sign up to receive notifications, go to EmergencyEmail.org, click on a state/area from their list, and add your email address and/or cell phone/pager/fax number.
