Checklist
An emergency plan for a small business
List the hazards most likely to hit the business, set what the crew does in the first minutes, gather every contact in one place, plan how work keeps going and practice it.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published August 26, 2026 · 2 min read
At a glance
- The hazards
- Weather, illness, accidents and outages
- The first minutes
- Who warns whom, and where everyone goes
- The contacts
- Crew, customers and suppliers, kept current
- The test
- Practice it with the crew
A small business faces the same hazards a large one does: floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, widespread illness, accidents and violence, and power outages and equipment failure. Rebuilding after a disaster is expensive, and a business with a plan is in a better position to recover and keep operating. For a contracting business, the plan covers the shop, the trucks and the crew on job sites.
Know the risks
- List the likely hazardsFocus on the disasters that pose a realistic risk to the business, like hurricanes, wildfires, flooding or a cyberattack.
- Note what's on handWrite down the people, equipment and supplies the business has to steady a situation, and the outside help it can call on.
- Talk with the fire departmentAsk about their response time to the shop or yard, what they know about it and its hazards, and what they can handle there.
The first minutes
- Set a protective action for each hazardDecide when the crew evacuates, when it shelters in place and where it goes.
- Decide how people get warnedSettle how the shop and every crew on a job site hear about an emergency.
- Decide who calls for helpName who alerts the fire department, police and ambulance, and who tells the owner.
Communications
- Gather the contacts ahead of timeList the crew, customers and suppliers, each with a name, phone and email. Keep the list secured, updated regularly and reachable during an emergency.
- Name one spokespersonOne person speaks for the business, with talking points prepared in advance.
- Write messages ahead of timeDraft templates with blanks to fill in, approved ahead of time and stored where they can be reached from anywhere.
Keeping the work going
- Put a small team on itName who keeps the business running through a disruption, and what each person handles.
- Keep the plan easy to reachTailor it to the business, start with the immediate priorities and keep a copy where the crew can get at it.
Practice
- Train the crew on their rolesEveryone should know what to do when there's an emergency or work is disrupted.
- Run a practiceWalk through the plan with the crew so they're ready when a disaster occurs, and fix what the practice turns up.
A family emergency plan covers the plan at home.
Checklist: the business emergency plan
- List the hazards most likely to hit the business
- Write the crew's steps for the first minutes of an emergency
- Gather crew, customer and supplier contacts in one place
- Choose one person to speak for the business in an emergency
- Run a practice of the emergency plan with the crew
FAQ
What should a small business emergency plan include?
The hazards most likely to affect the business, what the crew does in the first minutes, how people get warned, a contact list for the crew, customers and suppliers, and how the work keeps going.
Who should speak for the business in an emergency?
One person, named ahead of time and given talking points.
How do I test a business emergency plan?
Practice it with the crew, then fix what the practice turns up.
Sources
Checked October 20, 2026
- Ready.gov. Ready Business (2026)
- Ready.gov. Emergency response plan (2026)
- Ready.gov. Crisis communications plans (2026)
- Ready.gov. Business continuity planning (2026)
- U.S. Small Business Administration. Prepare for emergencies (2026)
- Professional
