Improve business efficiency, eliminate day-to-day mishaps, and prepare for the worst-with effective disaster contingency planning Working in lower Manhattan on September 11th, 2001, Donna Childs became keenly aware of the need for small businesses to develop disaster contingency plans and grateful that her own business had implemented such plans and would remain financially sound. Now, with the assistance of IT consultant Stefan Dietrich, she draws upon her unique experience to present proven guidelines for small and midsize businesses to effectively prepare for catastrophes in Contingency Planning and Disaster Recovery: A Small Business Guide. Childs and Dietrich take small business owners through every stage of disaster planning, from preparation to response to recovery. Specific issues addressed include: * What to do if the main office location is not accessible * Getting the business up and running again * Contacting third parties * Handling insurance claims * Adequate insurance for property, business interruption losses, and workers' compensation * Rebuilding an IT infrastructure Successful planning not only can limit the damage of an unforeseen disaster but also can minimize daily mishaps-such as the mistaken deletion of files-and increase a business's overall efficiency. Contingency Planning and Disaster Recovery is the only contingency guide that small business owners need to ensure their company's continued success.

Presents methods to identify vulnerabilities and take appropriate countermeasures to prevent and mitigate failure risks for an organization.

Libraries are in a unique position to aid communities during times of adversity, and this comprehensive handbook’s practical tools and expert guidance will help ensure that your library is thoroughly prepared for emergency response and recovery. Your library is a vital information hub and resource provider every single day, and that’s doubly true when calamity strikes. In fact, your library’s role as an “essential community function” during disasters is now encoded in U.S. law. Engaging as a partner in planning and preparedness will build much-needed community support should disaster strike, and even a basic plan will also save you time and stress later on. No matter where your library is in the disaster planning cycle, this handbook will make the process clearer and less daunting. You’ll get tools, activities, easy-to-adapt templates, and hands-on guidance on such topics as the six phases of disaster response; 15 first-hand accounts of library disaster planning or responses, helping you identify the library services most needed during a disaster; three essential factors that will shape the form of your disaster plan; preparing for hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods, and earthquakes; ideas for connecting with your community’s emergency response teams; federal government planning resources; pointers on working with state and local governments; a sample Memorandum of Understanding to outline mutual support for a speedier recovery; recommended courses and training, many of which are free; targeted advice for archives and special collections; sample building inspection checklists; and recommended games to help children and families prepare.

It takes careful planning to ensure that a disaster of any typewhether the result of fire, an electrical outage, a major computer virus, or even terrorismdoes not result in a prolonged service interruption that could affect your business for years to come. By creating a proactive disaster recovery program, you can keep your people, inventory, and resources safe and secure. The Disaster Recovery Handbook is a comprehensive reference to help your business survive any kind of major disruption, giving you the tools you need to protect your organization in the event of extraordinary circumstances. Filled with practical solutions and ready-to-use tools, the book provides detailed instructions for: * Assessing risk * Assembling a disaster recovery team * Building an interim plan for immediate protection * Setting up an emergency operations center * Clearly documenting recovery procedures * Testing and debugging the plan to make sure it works * Ensuring the health and physical safety of your people * Recovering vital records * Protecting your material resources

On July 28, 1997, the Morgan Library at the Colorado State University experienced a flash flood that broke a wall in the library basement; the flood's sheer force twisted bookshelves and tossed books into the water. As a result, ten percent of the collection was totally destroyed, with the most serious damage to the serials collection. In all, 425,000 titles had to be reprocessed, most computers were ruined, work areas were gone, and the library couldn't open due to water, mold, and other health hazards a disaster of the largest magnitude. Edited by university library dean Alire, who oversaw the library's recovery, this handbook gives a detailed account of the disaster, as well as advice and recommendations to other libraries for coping with an emergency and its aftermath. Even though Morgan Library had a disaster plan in effect, employees discovered how many things weren't covered. They also learned how little there was in published library literature on replacing collections, accepting gifts in huge quantities, dealing with insurance companies, keeping the building secure, the difficulties (in their state) of hiring temporary help, and working with contractors. Each chapter is written by a different staff member (or pairs) and discusses the impact the disaster had on their department. How do you keep staff morale intact and how do you communicate when there are no telephones, electricity, or heating/cooling in the building? Health concerns for the safety of employees from mold are also discussed. This lengthy volume is important as it documents the severity of the disaster but also reads as a cathartic dissertation that will help the staff in the healing process as they regain control of their library. Useful lessons can be learned by large academic and public libraries thinking through their own disaster plans.

CIOs, MIS, and DP managers, facilities managers, and all others concerned with Disaster Planning for computer and communications facilities will find this the most comprehensive and usable handbook ever done. Includes hundreds of forms, checklists, procedural guides for avoiding disaster, and, when unavoidable, recovering with the least difficulty.