Natural disaster recovery checklist

This natural disaster recovery checklist outlines the steps you can take to help get your business back on track after a natural disaster. These key steps will give your business the best chance of recovery after a natural disaster such as a flood, cyclone, storm or bushfire.

Read through this natural disaster recovery checklist and tick the items you've already done.

Complete the list of actions to ensure your business can recover as quickly as possible from a natural disaster.

You can customise this checklist to include information specific to your business by adding items to the 'Other' section.

Insurance

Receive confirmation from emergency services that it is safe to return to your business premises to inspect damage

Contact your insurance company to make a claim (before you begin cleaning up and removing goods)

Record or photograph damage to your premises, fixtures, vehicles, stock, customer records and equipment

Ask your insurance company if you can make a claim under your business interruption or income protection insurance

Cleaning up

Receive confirmation from your insurance company that you can start cleaning, repairing or rebuilding

Assess how much cleaning and repair work is required. Do you have enough employees, family, friends or volunteers to keep going or do you need more help?

Check with your local council for information on cleaning and kerbside pickup

Ensure undamaged stock is in a secure location to minimise theft

If you sell food, contact your local council to find out if you will require an inspection before you begin trading again

Turn off all gas and electricity before you begin cleaning up

Contact a licensed electrical contractor to inspect and verify your switchboard, wiring, equipment and appliances

Contact a licensed gas fitter to inspect any affected LPG and natural gas appliances and equipment

Assess the viability of your business

Assess whether you have (or have access to) the finance needed to reopen your business

Think about whether you want to continue running your business

Consider how severely the disaster has affected you, your employees, your local community and local infrastructure

Assess whether the market for your products or services has changed, decreased or increased

Consider options if you decide not to re-open your business, including exiting your business

Re-establish your premises and business records

Salvage and safely store machinery, equipment and stock

Investigate options for your business including temporary accommodation, working from home, leasing premises or relocating by finding the right business location

Consider whether you need to buy, hire or lease equipment to ensure you can continue to deliver your product or service

Salvage and safely store your records, files and correspondence

Work out what hard copy and electronic records you have access to

Repair damaged records

Request copies of records from key sources (e.g. the Australian Taxation Office, your accountant, bank, service providers and suppliers)

Assess your finances

Complete a cash flow forecast to find out how much cash your business has available

Complete a profit and loss statement to give you an idea of your financial position

Contact your accountant or financial adviser for advice and support as you analyse your business's current financial position

Benchmark your business to compare your performance with other similar-sized businesses in the same industry

Contact the Australian Taxation Office for information about natural disaster support

Manage and pay your staff

Consider how your employees have been affected (e.g., is there anything you can do to help and support them?)

Assess how many employees you have available for cleaning and repair work. Can you retain your employees and assign them other roles until your business is back up and running?

Consider whether some employees might not return (e.g. leaving the area, moving to temporary accommodation elsewhere, unable to return to work)

Consider your employment entitlements during natural disasters or emergencies

Phone the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 to find out if you can stand down staff without pay

Communicate with your employees to ensure they are well-informed about what is happening with your business

Communicate with key people

Contact your phone and internet service providers to find out how they can help you stay in touch with your customers, suppliers and staff

Contact your information technology support person to seek advice on restoring your computer systems

Communicate with your customers to find out how they are, and to provide them with information about when you will reopen

Research your target market and identify customer needs (which may have changed after the disaster)

Talk to your suppliers and distributors to find out if they have been affected by the natural disaster and to tell them when you expect to start trading again

Discuss any concerns you might have about paying debts as openly as you can (many businesses offer flexibility after a natural disaster)

Review your products and services to meet the current supply and demand

Communicate with your competitors to find out how they have been affected by the natural disaster

Contact your industry association to discuss the health and direction of your industry

Plan for the future

Review your operations by sitting down with your business advisers to ask for advice on what you can do to improve the way your business is run

Check your insurance policy to find out if you have the right insurance cover for your property

Speak to your bank so you both understand the arrangements that are in place when a natural disaster occurs

Ask your employees what they would improve about your business if they could

Conduct a SWOT analysis to give you essential information about your business, and how you can improve your performance

Develop or review your business plan

Prepare a business continuity plan

Consider what you can do to prepare your business for natural disasters

Other

Also consider...

Last reviewed: 30 Nov 2018
Last updated: 27 Jul 2023

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