Disaster Recovery continued from page 36
Kevin Nocktonick Owner of ServiceMaster Cleaning Services
When a natural disaster hits, a call to a cleanup company is a smart choice. Companies such as ServiceMaster Cleaning Services can help businesses hit by disasters like smoke, fire and water damage. Owner Kevin Nocktonick says water is the biggest physical problem businesses are likely to encounter. When a pipe breaks or bursts, it can quickly become a big disaster. ServiceMaster can assess, secure and, if necessary, remove and store salvageable business assets. “Our first goal is to never have a business shut down if at all possible,” Nocktonick said. He says a contingency plan made in advance limits business disruption and
the severity of any service break. However, most businesses are not prepared. “Most think it could or would never happen for them. Those that had planned for it were repaid countless times over by not only saving lives, but the property and, in many cases, their business,” Nocktonick said. A good contingency plan includes educating employees and having practice drills for emergency situations. “We’ve seen situations where this happens to a business and they struggle for months on end,” Nocktonick said. “Other businesses that have a plan, the employees know what to do. When it does happen, they immediately go to the point of contact they are assigned to.”
Physical Security Physical security monitoring can be another first step toward preventing a disaster and is often a smart part of a good continuity plan. Frank Padilla, recently retired sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division of the Topeka Police Department and now owner of Guardian Security, says companies such as his can help with front line security in the event of a disaster. If a building is compromised, they will help make sure no one comes in to take advantage of the situation. “Unfortunately, we know that sometimes people prey on businesses that aren’t secure,” Padilla said. A security presence during off hours can help prevent not only a break-in or theft, but also a fire or other incident. An often-overlooked role of a security company is to help companies
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Frank Padilla Owner of Guardian Security deal with terminated employees. That includes escorting a terminated employee from the building in order to safeguard against any incidents.
TK Business Magazine
“Security is an important part of any business, especially when you have workplace violence issues,” Padilla said. Padilla recommends businesses also consider Crime Prevention through Environmental Design concepts to develop strategies for preventing crime. Things like general upkeep, making sure bushes are trimmed and lighting is adequate can help prevent theft disasters. An assessment of walkways and signage can also help. Padilla says many companies do not think to put physical security in their continuity plans. “A lot of people don’t think of this until it’s too late or in the 11th hour. It’s nice to think about security because you don’t want to be scrambling through the yellow pages when the time comes,” Padilla said.