Get Ready for the Next Big Disaster!
Our Speaker for Thursday, January 16, was Cate Steane. Cate is a disaster preparedness expert and gave us valuable insights on how to prepare for the next disaster. Her business is Make it Happen Preparedness Services and she works with companies to ensure that they are as ready as they can be when the next “big one” hits. Cate came to her expertise in a roundabout way. She started out at Yale Law School and then worked as an attorney doing tenants’ rights law. She saw first-hand the devastation of the Loma Prieta earthquake, working with clients who suffered greatly. She also worked in Oakland’s City Attorney office and was assigned to the “Tunnel Fire” team. She then worked as a Director of Operations for various non-profits for many years. The 2017 fires convinced her to start a business helping people prepare for disasters and started Make it Happen.
Her advice to businesses is to be prepared so that they can re-open sooner after a disaster. The goals include protecting employees and investments. A high percentage of small businesses close permanently after a disaster if they have not reopened within 5 days. If a business can keep its employees working and has the assets to keep going through the disaster it has a competitive advantage over other companies that aren’t so well prepared.
Cate’s most significant advice is to seriously consider purchasing earthquake insurance. It is expensive and typically comes with a large deductible for dwelling coverage, but other provided coverages, such as personal property and loss of use, do not have deductibles. Cate sees earthquake insurance as a great deal with a fantastic return on investment, especially in the context of the loss of use coverage. Cate’s top 3 things you need to get through a disaster are insurance, cloud back up and social networks. Social networks allow people to find goods and services more easily and can keep customers coming to you during and after the disaster! Cate’s last word? The best disaster prevention is reversing climate change! Many thanks to Cate for the information. Come back and see us again!
