Disaster Preparedness for Businesses in Southern Idaho

Statistics show that 25% of businesses don’t reopen after a disaster. Southern Idaho, with its landscapes and strong economy, is susceptible to natural disasters and weather-related emergencies. These range from earthquakes and floods to wildfires and winter storms. It is crucial for businesses in Southern Idaho to have a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan in place to protect their employees, assets, and operations. This report provides a guide for businesses in Boise and Southern Idaho to prepare for such events. It outlines the common hazards in the region, provides resources and best practices for disaster preparedness, and offers a concise checklist that business owners can use to ensure they are ready for any eventuality.

Common Natural Disasters and Weather Emergencies in Southern Idaho

Southern Idaho faces a range of potential natural disasters and weather-related emergencies. Understanding these hazards is the first step in developing an effective preparedness plan. From 1980–2024, there were 32 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect Idaho. These events included 13 drought events, 3 flooding events, 1 freeze event, and 15 wildfire events.

Water-Related Hazards

Flooding is perhaps the most common, costly, and predictable natural hazard in Idaho. Flooding is a recurring concern in Southern Idaho, particularly along the Boise River and its tributaries. The Boise River reaches flood stage, on average, once every five years, causing minor damage and inconvenience. However, more severe floods can result in significant damage to property and infrastructure. Flash floods, characterized by rapid water level rises in creeks and streams, are also a threat in areas with dense development.

Drought is a significant concern in Southern Idaho, with potential impacts on agriculture, water resources, and wildfire risk. Prolonged periods of low precipitation, alongside rising temperatures, can lead to water shortages, crop failures, and increased wildfire danger.

There are different types of drought that can affect Southern Idaho:

Meteorological drought: This refers to a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period.
Hydrological drought: This occurs when there is a shortage of water in rivers, lakes, and groundwater resources.
Snow drought: This can occur due to a lack of snowfall or when temperatures are high, causing precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, affecting snowpack.
Flash drought: This is characterized by a rapid onset and is caused by lower-than-normal precipitation combined with abnormally high temperatures, winds, and solar radiation.

Earthquakes

According to FEMA, Idaho is ranked fifth in the nation for earthquake risk. The state has experienced two of the largest earthquakes in the continental United States in the last 50 years. While Southern Idaho may not have the same population density as other high-risk areas like California, many buildings in the region are not built to withstand significant seismic activity.

Wildfires

The increasing number of homes built in the foothills and outlying areas of Southern Idaho has heightened the risk of wildfires. Dry vegetation and high winds can cause wildfires to spread rapidly, potentially destroying homes and businesses in their path.

Winter Storms

Winter storms in Southern Idaho can bring heavy snow, ice, extreme cold, and high winds. These conditions can disrupt transportation, cause power outages, and pose risks to personal safety.

It’s important to be aware of the different winter weather warnings:

Winter Storm Watch: This means that conditions are favorable for a winter storm to develop. Businesses should gather supplies and stay alert.
Winter Storm Warning: This indicates that severe winter conditions are imminent or occurring. Businesses should avoid travel and follow local guidance.
Wind Chill Advisory: This means that extremely cold conditions are expected. Businesses should take precautions to protect employees from frostbite and hypothermia.

Other Hazards

Southern Idaho is also susceptible to other hazards, such as thunderstorms, lightning, hazardous materials accidents, and landslides. While these events may be less frequent, they can still have significant impacts on businesses.

Resources and Guides for Business Disaster Preparedness

Several resources and guides are available to help businesses in Southern Idaho prepare for disasters and emergencies. These resources provide valuable information, tools, and best practices for developing and implementing effective preparedness plans.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA offers a wealth of resources for businesses, including:

Preparedness Planning for Your Business: This website provides tools and guidance for assessing risks, developing plans, responding to disasters, and improving future readiness.
Ready Business: This program helps companies develop a five-step preparedness program that addresses the impact of various hazards.
Protect Your Property or Business from Disaster: This downloadable list of publications provides detailed information on minimizing property losses caused by different types of natural disasters.
DisasterAssistance.gov: This website provides information and resources for individuals and businesses affected by disasters.
Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: This guide provides detailed information on developing emergency operations plans, including engaging the whole community in addressing all potential risks.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA offers disaster assistance programs and resources for small businesses, including:

Disaster Loans: Low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes to repair or replace damaged property and cover economic losses. These loans include:

Home and Property Disaster Loans: For repairing or replacing real estate, personal property, machinery, equipment, inventory, and business assets.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans: For working capital to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loans: For helping small businesses meet operating expenses when an essential employee is called-up to active duty in the Reserves or National Guard.
Mitigation Assistance: For funding mitigation measures to protect your business from future disasters.

Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Assistance: This website provides guidance on preparing for emergencies, including assessing risks, creating a plan, and getting financial assistance after a disaster.
Business Resilience Guide: This guide helps small businesses anticipate the impacts of disasters and minimize disruptions to their operations.

Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM)

The IOEM provides resources specific to Idaho, including:

Business and Organization Preparedness: This webpage offers guidance on assessing hazards, developing plans, and preparing for various emergencies.
Plan to Stay in Business: This guide provides a five-step program with supporting checklists to help businesses develop their own business continuity plans.
Idaho Winter Weather Preparedness: This webpage provides information and resources for preparing for winter storms and extreme cold.

Other Resources

American Red Cross Ready Rating Assessment: This program provides a 123-question assessment to help businesses identify gaps and strengths in their preparedness plans and prioritize areas for improvement.
Disaster Resistant Business Toolkit (DRB Toolkit): This step-by-step, fully customizable planning tool guides businesses of all types in building a disaster plan, training employees, running exercises, and preparing operations. It provides tools, templates, and videos for beginners and experienced planners alike.
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety: This website allows you to enter your zip code to find the specific risks in your area and provides information on how to protect your business from disasters.
Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs): LEPCs develop emergency response plans, review them annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens. Plans are developed by LEPCs with stakeholder participation.
US Chamber Foundation Disaster Help Desk: This resource provides assistance to businesses impacted by disasters, offering guidance on recovery and rebuilding.

Disaster Preparedness Checklist for Businesses in Southern Idaho

Based on the information gathered, the following checklist provides essential steps for business owners in Southern Idaho to prepare for disasters and emergencies:

Before a Disaster:

Identify Potential Hazards: Determine the specific hazards that your business may face, such as earthquakes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, and drought. Talk to neighbors and long-time residents about past disasters in your area to gain a better understanding of local risks.
Develop a Business Continuity Plan: Create a plan that outlines how your business will continue to operate during and after a disaster. This should include:

Essential Functions: Identify critical business functions and how to maintain them during an emergency.
Communication Plan: Establish a communication system to keep employees, customers, and stakeholders informed. This may include phone trees, email alerts, a password-protected page on the company website, or social media update.
Data Backup: Regularly back up critical data and store it off-site. Consider both physical and cloud-based backups.
Emergency Supplies: Assemble a disaster supplies kit with essential items. Consider the five necessities of survival: water, food, energy, shelter, and security.
Insurance Coverage: Review your insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage for potential disasters.
Employee Training: Train employees on emergency procedures, including evacuation routes, communication protocols, and how to use emergency equipment. Ask your employer about workplace policies regarding disasters and emergencies, including how you will be provided with emergency and warning information.
Prepare Your Facility: Take steps to protect your facility from potential damage, such as:

Securing Equipment: Secure shelves, equipment, and other items that could be damaged during an earthquake or flood.
Protecting Utilities: Know how to shut off utilities such as gas, water, and electricity.
Creating a Safe Environment: Ensure clear evacuation routes and accessible emergency exits.
Connect with Local Resources: Contact your local emergency management agency, LEPC, and other relevant organizations to learn about community resources and preparedness initiatives. Familiarize yourself with local warning systems, such as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) and NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), which broadcast emergency information from local authorities.

During a Disaster:

Activate Your Plan: Implement your business continuity plan and follow established procedures.
Communicate Regularly: Keep employees, customers, and stakeholders informed about the situation and any changes to operations.
Monitor the Situation: Stay updated on the disaster and any potential threats to your business.
Prioritize Safety: Ensure the safety of your employees and customers.

After a Disaster:

Assess Damage: Evaluate the extent of damage to your facility and equipment.
Contact Your Insurance Company: Report any damages and file a claim.
Begin Recovery Efforts: Take steps to restore operations and rebuild your business.
Seek Assistance: Contact the SBA, FEMA, and other organizations for disaster assistance. Submit your SBA disaster loan application as soon as possible. In addition to physical damage loans and economic injury loans, explore mitigation assistance loans to help rebuild stronger and more resiliently. Also, check the availability of disaster grants to help meet other serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs.
Review and Update Your Plan: Evaluate your response to the disaster and update your plan based on lessons learned.

Additional Considerations for Different Types of Businesses:

Retail Businesses: Consider inventory protection, customer safety, and alternative operating locations.
Manufacturing Businesses: Focus on equipment protection, supply chain disruptions, and employee safety.
Service-Based Businesses: Prioritize communication with clients, data backup, and alternative work arrangements.

Conclusion

Disaster preparedness is essential for businesses in Southern Idaho. By understanding the potential hazards, developing a comprehensive plan, and utilizing available resources, businesses can minimize the impact of disasters and ensure their continued operation. The checklist provided in this report offers a starting point for businesses to create a tailored preparedness plan that addresses their specific needs and circumstances. By taking proactive steps to prepare, businesses can protect their employees, assets, and operations, and contribute to the resilience of the Southern Idaho community. How quickly an individual business can get back to normal operations after an incident is directly related to the amount of emergency planning done before the event. Though each situation is unique, any organization can be better prepared if they plan carefully, put emergency procedures in place, work with their emergency management partners, and develop plans for a wide variety of potential emergencies.

Elite Restoration provides 24/7 emergency response services across Idaho. When disasters strike, every minute counts – and we’ll be there when you need us most. Contact Elite Restoration if you need disaster recovery assistance.