Disaster resilience and recovery

Natural disaster recovery checklist

Find out what financial assistance and support is available if you have been affected by a natural disaster.

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 click 'Yes' or 'No' to answer the questions.

If you answer 'No' to any question, you will create a list of actions to complete 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 typing into the 'Other' section.

Also consider...

Find out about Queensland natural disaster assistance.
Read about what to do after a natural disaster on ASIC's MoneySmart website.
Learn more about disaster resilience and recovery.
Find out how an incident response plan can help your business deal with an incident or crisis.
Learn how a recovery plan can help minimise losses and get your business running again.

Previous Plan for the future after a natural disaster

Last reviewed: 30 Nov 2018
Last updated: 17 Jan 2020

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) business support: 1300 654 687

General enquiries: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

Received confirmation from emergency services that it is safe to return to your business premises to inspect damage?	Yes No
Contacted your insurance company to make a claim (before you begin cleaning up and removing goods)?	Yes No
Recorded or photographed damage to your premises, fixtures, vehicles, stock, customer records and equipment?	Yes No
Asked your insurance company if you can make a claim under your business interruption or income protection insurance?	Yes No

Received confirmation from your insurance company that you can start cleaning, repairing or rebuilding?	Yes No
Assessed 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?	Yes No
Contacted your local council for information on cleaning and kerbside pickup?	Yes No
Ensured undamaged stock is in a secure location to minimise theft?	Yes No
If you sell food, have you contacted your local council to find out if you will require an inspection before you begin trading again?	Yes No
Turned off all gas and electricity before you begin cleaning up?	Yes No
Contacted a licensed electrical contractor to inspect and verify your switchboard, wiring, equipment and appliances?	Yes No
Have you contacted a licensed gas fitter to inspect any affected LPG and natural gas appliances and equipment?	Yes No
Read Queensland Health's information about natural disasters and severe weather and the Red Cross's emergency resources and Workplace Health and Safety's advice on safely cleaning up after floods and storms?	Yes No

Assessed whether you have (or have access to) the finance needed to reopen your business?	Yes No
Thought about whether you want to continue running your business?	Yes No
Considered how severely the disaster has affected you, your employees, your local community and local infrastructure?	Yes No
Assessed whether the market for your products or services has changed, decreased or increased?	Yes No
Considered options if you decide not to re-open your business, including exiting your business?	Yes No

Salvaged and safely stored machinery, equipment and stock?	Yes No
Investigated options for your business including temporary accommodation, working from home, leasing premises or relocating by finding the right business location?	Yes No
Considered whether you need to buy, hire or lease equipment to ensure you can continue to deliver your product or service?	Yes No
Salvaged and safely stored your records, files and correspondence?	Yes No
Worked out what hard copy and electronic records you have access to?	Yes No
Repaired damaged records?	Yes No
Requested copies of records from key sources (e.g. the Australian Taxation Office, your accountant, bank, service providers and suppliers)?	Yes No

Completed a cash flow forecast to find out how much cash your business has available?	Yes No
Completed a profit and loss report to give you an idea of your financial position?	Yes No
Contacted your accountant or financial adviser for advice and support as you analyse your business's current financial position?	Yes No
Benchmarked your business to compare your performance with other similar-sized businesses in the same industry?	Yes No
Contacted the Australian Tax Office for information about dealing with disasters?	Yes No

Disaster resilience and recovery

Natural disaster recovery checklist

Insurance

Cleaning up

Assess the viability of your business

Re-establish your premises and business records

Assess your finances

Manage and pay your staff

Communicate with key people

Plan for the future

Other

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Considered how your employees have been affected? Is there anything you can do to help and support them?	Yes No
Assessed 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?	Yes No
Considered whether some employees might not return (e.g. leaving the area, moving to temporary accommodation elsewhere, unable to return to work)?	Yes No
Considered your employment entitlements during natural disasters or emergencies?	Yes No
Phoned the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 to find out if you can stand down staff without pay?	Yes No
Communicated with your employees to ensure they are well-informed about what is happening with your business?	Yes No

Contacted your phone and internet service providers to find out how they can help you stay in touch with your customers, suppliers and staff?	Yes No
Contacted your information technology support person to seek advice on restoring your computer systems?	Yes No
Communicated with your customers to find out how they are, and to provide them with information about when you will reopen?	Yes No
Researched your target market and identified customer needs (which may have changed after the disaster)?	Yes No
Talked 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?	Yes No
Discussed any concerns you might have about paying debts as openly as you can (many businesses offer flexibility after a natural disaster)?	Yes No
Reviewed your products and services to meet the current supply and demand?	Yes No
Communicated with your competitors to find out how they have been affected by the natural disaster?	Yes No
Contacted your industry association to discuss the health and direction of your industry?	Yes No

Reviewed 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?	Yes No
Checked your insurance policy to find out if you have the right insurance cover for your property?	Yes No
Spoken to your bank so you both understand the arrangements that are in place when a natural disaster occurs?	Yes No
Asked your employees what they would improve about your business if they could?	Yes No
Conducted a SWOT analysis to give you essential information about your business, and how you can improve your performance?	Yes No
Developed or reviewed your business plan?	Yes No
Prepared a business continuity plan?	Yes No
Considered what you can do to prepare your business for natural disasters?	Yes No