Readiness

Emergencies can happen at any time to any organization! They can range from natural disasters to loss of crucial staff to IT issues. Organizations in rural areas are especially vulnerable because the areas where they are located may lack infrastructure and adequate communication systems, have limited first responders and municipal staff, and be in short supply of affordable housing options for displaced families and individuals.

If your normal operations are disrupted or threatened due to a disaster incident, being prepared with a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan will help your staff to prepare, respond, and recover organizational operations quickly and efficiently.

Custom Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

HAC’s Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery template was developed specifically for rural nonprofit housing and community development organizations to help streamline and simplify the planning process. These tools will assist your team to review organizational preparedness through the context of the types of disasters most likely to impact your area resulting in a written actionable plan for when an incident inevitably strikes.

The template includes information and recommendations on:

• Preparing your Organization for Disaster

Helps your organization determine and prioritize the riskiest incidents that could have the biggest impact on your organization’s staff, property, operations, finances, and reputation. It also provides guidance on how each stage of a disaster can be managed.

• Recovery of Management and Business Activities

Instructs your organization to develop a business impact analysis, list critical tasks, key vendors, and vital records for several management and business activities, like fiscal management and housing construction, so that it can continue to operate in the event of a disaster.

• Disaster and Emergency Planning for Staff and Community Members

Provides ideas and procedures for communicating and coordinating emergency response activities with staff, volunteers, constituents, and tenants before, during, and after an incident.