SAVE MONEY: 

• Keep in close touch with your agent to:
  1) Understand how your premium is being determined.
  2) Inform your agent of the steps you are taking to prevent loss. 
• Make arrangements to use the facilities of another firm in the same line of work in case there is an interruption period. Some insurance companies offer a discount on business interruption insurance if your business has a place where it can operate in the event of a fire or disaster. 
• Store a backup of your electronic records off the premises. 
• Take a higher deductible on your policy. It will probably result in a reduced premium.  
• Buy a package policy rather than separate policies. Package policies often provide broader coverage at a lower price.  
• Consider installing ignition cutoff systems, alarms or hood and wheel-locking devices in company cars. Some insurance companies offer discounts for these items. 
• Discuss insurance with people in the same business. You may pick up trends in price and other developments which can save money. 
• Involve employees in all programs to prevent loss and maintain safety. 

INSURE AGAINST A CATASTROPHE: 

Businesses that recover quickly are those that plan in advance. This involves not only purchasing the right insurance, but also developing and maintaining an adequate recovery plan.  

1. Minimize the risk of damage in advance of an emergency: 

• Train employees in fire safety particularly those responsible for storage areas, housekeeping, maintenance and operations where open flames or flammable substances are used. 
• Modernize the electrical system since faulty wiring causes a large percentage of nonresidential fires.
• Situate your business in a fire-resistive building - a structure made of non-combustible materials with firewalls that create barriers to the spread of fires - and in a building with a fire alarm system connected to the local fire department. 
• Limit storm-related damage by making sure the building conforms to damage-resistant building codes. 

2. Develop a disaster recover plan: 

• Keep duplicate records of both computerized and written records. Under federal law, if companies fail to maintain accurate business records and to safeguard those records, the company may be held liable. 
• In order to maintain market share while the business is closed for repairs, identify the critical business activities and the resources needed to support them. 
• Plan for the worst possible scenario. Do research before a disaster strikes by finding alternative facilities, equipment and supplies and locating qualified contractors.  
• Set up an emergency response plan and train employees how to carry it out. Consider the things you may need to initialize during an emergency such as back-up sources of power and communications systems. Also, consider the supplies that may be needed such as first-aid kits and flashlights.  
• Compile a list of important phone numbers and addresses including local and state emergency management agencies, major clients, contractors, suppliers, realtors, financial institutions, insurance agents and claims representatives. The list should also include employees and company officials. Keep copies off the premises in case the disaster is widespread. 
• Decide on a communications strategy to prevent loss of clients/customers. It is imperative for clients and customers to know how to contact your company at its new location. Among the possibilities to explore, depending on the circumstances, are posting notices outside the original premises, contacting clients by phone or mail, placing a notice in local newspapers and asking friends and acquaintances in the local business community to help disseminate the information. 

3. Review Insurance Program: 

For Property - 

• Typically, property insurance policies exclude coverage for flood damage. If your business is located in a flood zone, you will probably need to buy a flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program. 
• The federal government requires buildings in flood zones that don't conform to flood plain building codes be torn down if damage exceeds 50 percent of the market value. Consider purchasing ordinance or law coverage to help pay for the extra costs of tearing down the structure and rebuilding it.
• If your policy contains a coinsurance clause, make sure your property is sufficiently insured in compliance with the clause.

For Business Interruption - 

• Business interruption insurance compensates for income lost if your company has to vacate the premises due to disaster-related damage. 
• Business interruption insurance covers the profits you would have earned, based on your financial records, had the disaster not occurred. 
• The policy covers operating expenses that continue like electricity even though business activities have come to a temporary halt.  
• Make sure the policy limits are sufficient to cover your company for more than a few days. 
• The price of the policy is related to the risk of a fire or other disaster damaging your premises. 

For Extra Expenses - 

• Extra expense insurance reimburses your company for a reasonable sum of money that it spends, over and above normal operating expenses, to avoid having to shut down during the restoration period.
• Usually extra expense insurance will only be paid if the extra expenses help to decrease business interruption costs.
• In some instances, extra expense insurance alone may provide sufficient coverage, without the purchase of business interruption insurance.  

ON A REGULAR BASIS, REVIEW ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN:  

• Fire safety and emergency preparedness measures.
• Business continuation and building repair plans.
• Insurance program.