South Carolina Stories and Lowcountry Lessons …

Hurricane Hugo… When Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989, parts of the Lowcountry were without electricity for a month. Even 80-miles inland, eight residents perished in Berkeley County, which experienced wind gusts up to 120 miles per hour.

• Living in the South Carolina Lowcountry, we all know it’s not a matter of if, but when, the next major hurricane will occur. And, when that next hurricane hits, is your organization positioned to be able to reopen quickly?

Graniteville Chemical Spill… Sixteen freight cars derailed in Graniteville, South Carolina, on January 6, 2005. Eight people died in this tragedy from inhaling chlorine gas. Over 5,000 thousand people were evacuated. Skip to today… did you know Charleston is one of the largest seaports in the nation? So, literally, tons of goods are transported by truck and rail every day.

• Have you considered the proximity of your organization to the daily transportation of chemicals and other dangerous materials? Would you know what to do if a chemical spill happened near your business?

Charleston Earthquake… In a 2001 study conducted by FEMA, Charleston ranked among the top 40 cities in the nation for high-loss potential due to an earthquake. In 1886, Charleston experienced one of the largest historic earthquakes in eastern North America and by far the largest earthquake in the southeastern United States, with an estimated magnitude between 6.9 and 7.3.

In 2004, researchers from the Charleston Seismic Hazard Analysis Consortium estimated 14 billion dollars in damage and potentially 900 fatalities with 45,000 injuries if Charleston experienced another six or higher magnitude earthquake. The reality is – it’s very likely to happen. The Consortium reported that 137 earthquakes had been located in the Middleton Place-Summerville Seismic Zone (MPSSZ) from 1996 through 2003.

• Do your employees know the standard safety procedures to take during an earthquake? Do you?

Plan to prepare your business today!

Being prepared can truly save lives, time and money. Most organizations know they need to prepare, but put off developing a Business Continuity Plan. Planning your response and recovery in advance is a critical factor in your business's ability to reopen its doors.

And, although the stories above are extreme situations – remember Business Continuity Disaster Recovery isn’t always about disaster. There are many scenarios that may result in disruption to normal business operations. A disaster for your organization is anything that can close your doors for an extended period of time. Widespread national events, local isolated incidents, or human error can create circumstances that prevent your operation from carrying out its normal work. South Carolina organizations, are you prepared?

Contact ABCS today to develop your Business Continuity Plan and be prepared for the unexpected!