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.
Insurance
Have you:
Received confirmation from emergency services that it is safe to return to your business premises to inspect damage? |
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Contacted your insurance company to make a claim (before you begin cleaning up and removing goods)? |
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Recorded or photographed damage to your premises, fixtures, vehicles, stock, customer records and equipment? |
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Asked your insurance company if you can make a claim under your business interruption or income protection insurance? |
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Cleaning up
Have you:
Received confirmation from your insurance company that you can start cleaning, repairing or rebuilding? |
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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? |
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Checked with your local council for information on cleaning and kerbside pickup? |
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Ensured undamaged stock is in a secure location to minimise theft? |
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If you sell food, have you contacted your local council to find out if you will require an inspection before you begin trading again? |
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Turned off all gas and electricity before you begin cleaning up? |
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Contacted a licensed electrical contractor to inspect and verify your switchboard, wiring, equipment and appliances? |
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Have you contacted a licensed gas fitter to inspect any affected LPG and natural gas appliances and equipment? |
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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? |
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Assess the viability of your business
Have you:
Assessed whether you have (or have access to) the finance needed to reopen your business? |
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Thought about whether you want to continue running your business? |
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Considered how severely the disaster has affected you, your employees, your local community and local infrastructure? |
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Assessed whether the market for your products or services has changed, decreased or increased? |
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Considered options if you decide not to re-open your business, including exiting your business? |
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Re-establish your premises and business records
Have you:
Salvaged and safely stored machinery, equipment and stock? |
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Investigated options for your business including temporary accommodation, working from home, leasing premises or relocating by finding the right business location? |
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Considered whether you need to buy, hire or lease equipment to ensure you can continue to deliver your product or service? |
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Salvaged and safely stored your records, files and correspondence? |
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Worked out what hard copy and electronic records you have access to? |
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Repaired damaged records? |
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Requested copies of records from key sources (e.g. the Australian Taxation Office, your accountant, bank, service providers and suppliers)? |
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Assess your finances
Have you:
Completed a cash flow forecast to find out how much cash your business has available? |
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Completed a profit and loss statement to give you an idea of your financial position? |
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Contacted your accountant or financial adviser for advice and support as you analyse your business's current financial position? |
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Benchmarked your business to compare your performance with other similar-sized businesses in the same industry? |
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Contacted the Australian Taxation Office for information about natural disaster support? |
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Manage and pay your staff
Have you:
Considered how your employees have been affected? Is there anything you can do to help and support them? |
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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? |
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Considered whether some employees might not return (e.g. leaving the area, moving to temporary accommodation elsewhere, unable to return to work)? |
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Considered your employment entitlements during natural disasters or emergencies? |
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Phoned the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 to find out if you can stand down staff without pay? |
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Communicated with your employees to ensure they are well-informed about what is happening with your business? |
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Communicate with key people
Have you:
Contacted your phone and internet service providers to find out how they can help you stay in touch with your customers, suppliers and staff? |
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Contacted your information technology support person to seek advice on restoring your computer systems? |
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Communicated with your customers to find out how they are, and to provide them with information about when you will reopen? |
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Researched your target market and identified customer needs (which may have changed after the disaster)? |
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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? |
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Discussed any concerns you might have about paying debts as openly as you can (many businesses offer flexibility after a natural disaster)? |
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Reviewed your products and services to meet the current supply and demand? |
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Communicated with your competitors to find out how they have been affected by the natural disaster? |
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Contacted your industry association to discuss the health and direction of your industry? |
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Plan for the future
Have you:
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? |
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Checked your insurance policy to find out if you have the right insurance cover for your property? |
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Spoken to your bank so you both understand the arrangements that are in place when a natural disaster occurs? |
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Asked your employees what they would improve about your business if they could? |
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Conducted a SWOT analysis to give you essential information about your business, and how you can improve your performance? |
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Developed or reviewed your business plan? |
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Prepared a business continuity plan? |
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Considered what you can do to prepare your business for natural disasters? |
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Other
Have you:
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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.
- Learn about how to care for, store and salvage collections from the State Library of Queensland.
- 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.
- Last reviewed: 30 Nov 2018
- Last updated: 2 Mar 2022