At 10:21 a.m. on October 21, 2010, millions of Californians will Drop, Cover, and Hold On during The Great California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill ever! The ShakeOut is our chance to practice how to protect ourselves and to be prepared in the event of a large-magnitude earthquake on the Southern San Andreas Fault.

When considering disaster preparedness, we most commonly think about our family and our home. But now it is time to expand our thinking and consider our place of employment; the survival of our business depends on it.

“Roughly 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster” according to the U.S, Small Business Administration.

So where to start? We recommend Ready OC. Ready OC is just that…Ready to help you and your OC business.

Their website offers a comprehensive guide to assist you in planning for all hazards (both man-made and natural disasters) that can impact business. It starts with making a plan to assess the situation as well as using both common sense and available resources to take care of yourself, your co-workers and your business. Effective communication with employees is the second consideration. Every employee should know where to go, who to contact and what to bring along in case of emergency. Lastly, review the steps you can take to both safeguard your company and secure your physical assets and protect your investment.

Participating at work in The ShakeOut is a great way to start your business on the road to preparedness. Right now there are 147 businesses registered in Orange County for the 2010 Great California ShakeOut, with a total of 38,103 participants. But even if your business did not register, you can still have your employees practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On as the first step in your emergency preparation.

Utilize the resources on Ready OC and don’t let your business become a statistic!