--- title: Laying The Groundwork For A Robust Business Continuity Plan description: How can you help prepare your company to not only respond to a disaster, but to remain in business once the dust settles? image: https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hubfs/blog-files/Disaster_Plan_Steps.jpg --- [**](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/laying-the-groundwork-for-a-robust-business-continuity-plan#tmpmodule_1568675152246189) - [Client Login](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/gibson-client-login) - [Contact Us](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/contact) **** [![Gibson Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png?width=2518&height=1088&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png) ![Gibson Logo](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png?width=2518&height=1088&name=Gibson%20UNISON%20Co_Horiz_Logo_Gold_White-1.png) ](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/) [**](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/laying-the-groundwork-for-a-robust-business-continuity-plan#tmpmodule_1568675152246189) - [Services](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/employee-benefits) - [Business Insurance](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/business-insurance) - [Private Client Group](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/services/private-client-group) - [Industries](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/industries) - [Insights & News](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog) - [Insights & News](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog) - [Webinars](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/webinars) - [Podcast](https://podcast.thegibsonedge.com) - [About Us](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/about-us) - [Become a Partner](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/become-a-partner) - [Leadership](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/leadership) - [Community Impact](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/impact) - [Sightline](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/sightline) - [About URA](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/ura) - [Offices](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/offices) - [Careers](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/careers) ** ###### 2 min read # [Laying The Groundwork For A Robust Business Continuity Plan](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/blog/laying-the-groundwork-for-a-robust-business-continuity-plan) Oct 5, 2015 6:30:00 AM **![Are You Ready?](https://www.thegibsonedge.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Disaster_Plan_Steps.jpg?width=250&height=174&name=Disaster_Plan_Steps.jpg "Are You Ready?")75% of companies without business continuity plans fail within three years after facing a disaster.** *- [Business Continuity Institute](http://visual.ly/business-disaster-preparation)* How can you help prepare your company to not only respond to a [disaster](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/disasterready-what-is-a-disaster), but to remain in business once the dust settles?  It all begins with a plan. Creating a disaster recovery, or business continuity, plan can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be! [Agility Recovery](http://www.agilityrecovery.com/) offers the following steps to get you started with your plan. #### **1. Update Your Contact List.** Communication is paramount to recovery after a disaster. Update and document all employee and key external contact info. Keep contact info accessible in a secure environment both online and offline. This step should be a top priority. #### **2. Pull Together A Team.** Designate one team member from each department to participate in disaster planning. This team will also serve as your emergency response team during a disaster #### **3. Create/Restock Your Emergency Kit.** Your emergency kit should include everything your business needs in the event you’re asked to evacuate. #### **4. Backup Your Data.** 41% of small businesses in the U.S .have experienced data loss. Ideally, you should back up data on a daily basis and test it from a remote location. #### **5. Review Insurance Coverage. ** [Never assume your business is fully covered by your insurance policy.](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/blog/business-continuity...surviving-the-disaster) Talk to your advisor and get specific. Inquire about business interruption coverage as well as extra expense insurance.   Following these 5 steps will lay the groundwork for your business continuity plan…but you aren’t quite #DisasterReady yet. There are additional factors to consider when developing your plan – prioritizing your essential business functions, understanding and assessing your risk, preparing your employees, and more. To get the complete list of critical components, download our free resource, [10 Steps To Build A Robust Disaster Recovery Plan](https://www.info.gibsonins.com/disasterready10steps). 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