Building a Culture of Preparedness

September is National Preparedness Month, a federal initiative to raise awareness and equip individuals, businesses and communities with the tools they need to prepare for disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has designated this year's theme as "Start a Conversation" to encourage discussions about preparedness measures early and openly to ensure safety and building resilience before disaster strikes.

For builders and those in the residential building industry, these conversations are an opportunity to build a culture of preparedness throughout your organization.

By integrating preparedness and mitigation throughout your business, you can transform disaster readiness from a yearly checklist into a core function that can drive your business forward, no matter the disaster that may arise.

Here are a few recommended strategies for starting the conversation and building a culture of preparedness in your business:

• Review any current emergency action, continuity of operations (COOP) or disaster recovery plans. Update and edit existing plans to account for any changes in organizational structure, personnel, location or asset-based specifics.
• Set aside dedicated time to engage your employees, subcontractors and suppliers in a discussion regarding your disaster preparedness and safety plans. Ensure all those on the jobsite understand the plans, know where they can be found, and how they are implemented in the event of a disaster.
• Solicit feedback. Make sure all stakeholders feel empowered at all levels of the organization to share insights, ask questions, discuss potential risks, and offer suggestions.
• Train on any plans or processes. Consistent training throughout the year on your disaster plans will promote familiarity with the procedures listed and help to identify any areas of opportunity for further measures.
• Reach out proactively to those within your local network or home builders association before the imminent threat of a disaster to discuss potential synergies, strengthen local capacities, or provide needed information and resources.

For more information, guides and resources on preparing for natural disasters, visit nahb.org/disaster.