September 13, 2022
New Restaurant-Specific Disaster Preparation Guide Will Help Operators be “Always Ready”
Free Tool from National Restaurant Association is first created for industry needs
Washington, D.C. - Restaurants are the cornerstones of their communities, and this is most evident in times of crisis. Restaurant operators and their employees are often the last ones out of the path of dangerous weather and often the first back after emergency crews have cleared a disaster zone.
Evaluating the disasters an operation is vulnerable to and creating a Disaster Response Plan can help to mitigate losses, prevent injuries, and help a restaurant reopen faster. To support restaurants of all sizes across the country, the National Restaurant Association has created an industry-specific disaster preparation guide, Always Ready: Natural Disasters.
“The time to plan for a disaster is before one unfolds. For restaurants, this is especially important because they meet critical community infrastructure needs in the wake of a crisis. Every location needs a preparedness plan and time set aside every year to review and update that plan,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Always Ready: Natural Disasters brings together the knowledge and experience of industry experts who have successfully guided restaurants through every part of a disaster with the aim of getting restaurants back open and serving our communities as soon as possible.”
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), in 2021 the U.S. experienced 20 weather disasters that exceeded $1 billion in losses, with combined losses for these events topping $145 billion. According to research by Munich Re, insured losses from major natural disasters in 2021 were estimated at $85 billion. The NCEI warns that the number and cost of weather disasters in the U.S. are increasing, and according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about 25% of businesses don’t reopen after a disaster.
The Always Ready guide provides actionable steps for any owner or operator to assess their exposure and create a disaster response plan for before, during and after a threat. The Guide includes:
The Always Ready: Natural Disasters Guide is available for free to all restaurants here.
Evaluating the disasters an operation is vulnerable to and creating a Disaster Response Plan can help to mitigate losses, prevent injuries, and help a restaurant reopen faster. To support restaurants of all sizes across the country, the National Restaurant Association has created an industry-specific disaster preparation guide, Always Ready: Natural Disasters.
“The time to plan for a disaster is before one unfolds. For restaurants, this is especially important because they meet critical community infrastructure needs in the wake of a crisis. Every location needs a preparedness plan and time set aside every year to review and update that plan,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Always Ready: Natural Disasters brings together the knowledge and experience of industry experts who have successfully guided restaurants through every part of a disaster with the aim of getting restaurants back open and serving our communities as soon as possible.”
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), in 2021 the U.S. experienced 20 weather disasters that exceeded $1 billion in losses, with combined losses for these events topping $145 billion. According to research by Munich Re, insured losses from major natural disasters in 2021 were estimated at $85 billion. The NCEI warns that the number and cost of weather disasters in the U.S. are increasing, and according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about 25% of businesses don’t reopen after a disaster.
The Always Ready guide provides actionable steps for any owner or operator to assess their exposure and create a disaster response plan for before, during and after a threat. The Guide includes:
- Insurance considerations
- Document backup overview
- Checklist for creating an emergency contact list and emergency supply lists
- Understanding communication methods
- Step-by-step assessment by type of natural disaster, including:
- Earthquakes
- Floods
- Hurricanes and Tornadoes
- Wildfires
- Severe Winter Storms
- Safe cleanup protocols, and reopening recommendations
The Always Ready: Natural Disasters Guide is available for free to all restaurants here.
About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.5 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find @WeRRestaurants on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.