When creating a disaster plan for your company, make sure you have the essentials, says Kevin Rosenthal, executive director of business development at A&M in Rahway, NJ. In 2013 MDM Market Mover: A&M Industrial Carves Out Emergency Response Niche, Rosenthal recommends distributors keep basic needs in mind during disaster planning, which includes having supplies like emergency food, pumps, tarps and other basics on hand.
"Sometimes it's the simplest things that we forget," he says. "Do you have a battery? When the sun goes down, things can get more difficult if you don't have a working flashlight."
Beyond having the basics covered, Rosenthal also recommends distributors create an internal health and safety plan, including evacuation procedures and established meeting places.
It is also important to create a supply contingency plan, he says. Distributors should work with their core suppliers, and consider lining up redundant suppliers, to ensure the consistent supply of essential products.
Get more emergency preparedness tips from A&M Industrial and learn how the distributor has shifted its focus to essential services in the company’s 2013 MDM Market Mover profile.
