Contingency plans put to test when disaster strikes; Employee alerts, backup systems vital during crisis

A company's disaster plan is activated when catastrophe strikes. Thus, the people needed to activate the plan are in the eye of the storm. The hours before a natural disaster--assuming timely warning--is when companies unleash their mitigation responses. Buildings are secured, important records are moved to a safe location, equipment is tied down and/or relocated to higher floors to reduce flood perils, and critical metal machinery is oiled to inhibit oxidation. Communications are in high gear: manufacturing partners are apprised to provide potential backup services, contractors are notified to prepare for possible repairs, phone trees are activated to instruct employees about next action steps, and insurance adjusters are informed of potential claims scenarios.