Presented by: Working the Disaster Plan The first step in planning for a disaster is understanding what you are planning for.

What we’re really seeing this year with the tsunami and tornadoes is the importance of evacuation planning. Laurie Johnson, Lexington Insurance Company

It’s not necessary to plan for every possible danger, just the ones that will affect you. But you also have to be aware of secondary perils, like the fires or tsunamis that can follow an earthquake or the flood risks that come with a hurricane.

The first priority in any plan must be the protection of people, so evacuation procedures are very important for those perils that provide advance notice, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunamis. The second priority is protecting property, including both structures and contents. It’s also important to think about supply chains, protecting data and ensuring access to financial resources.

Federal and local governmental agencies, as well as risk management associations, offer excellent resources that can help with disaster planning.

Copyright © 2011 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise.