Disaster Preparedness

We were recently quoted in an article for the Associated Press on Disaster Preparedness .. It's a good article, very eye-opening. I hope you read it.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6IPHHS-60qW_lML1GzjRZW7roMwD935307O0

Diana Ennen, of Margate, Fla., is the author of "The Home Office Recovery Plan: Disaster Preparedness for Your Home-Based Business" and a mother of three.

"As a mom, you wouldn't be able to keep me away from picking up my children," she said in an e-mail. "My first instinct would be to get them at all costs. I would literally run the entire distance to get them. I believe most parents would feel the same."

Our prayers go to all in Texas!

Diana Ennen, Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Three Hurricanes Loom - Don't forget to prepare your home office

Margate, Florida September 2008 – As many prepare their homes for the triple threat of hurricanes, it’s important to remember that you need to protect your business as well. The difference between being prepared and waiting until the last minute, could mean not only the loss of your important client and business files, but also work done now and in the past. Your clients rely on you to keep your business up and running, so you need to make sure you do everything possible to do just that.

That’s why home-business owners Diana Ennen and Patty Gale decided that they should have an emergency plan for their home office. As a resident of South Florida, Ennen has prepared for numerous hurricanes, including a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma. Gale lived in New York after 9/11 and had the task of preparing a similar guideline for a company she was working with at the time. Both now the importance this guide can make in ensuring your business will withstand whatever this hurricane or any disaster (including a theft in the office or fire) has to offer.
They also felt it would benefit others as well, especially in times like this. They created a downloadable guide, The Home Office Recovery Plan: Disaster Preparedness for Your Home Business to teach others how to ensure the survival of their home office in the event of an emergency. A sample copy is available at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/

Emergency plans are not only for big businesses, but small ‘mom & pop stores,’ home offices as well. The guide is divided into a number of important sections:

• An administrative section to track all of the important information about you and your company. This will help you keep track of all your clients as well.

• An inventory you will prepare of your office (including supplies, equipment, software and contacts). Steps to make sure you have access to your vital information.

• Insurance information for all types, business, medical, etc;

• Business Continuity Plan – describe how you plan on keeping your business operating.

• Family information. Complete contact information so you can get in touch with people after the storm. Where family members plan to meet. Medical information. Where you will go in case of an emergency, etc.?

• Also, a hurricane/tornado/storm preparation section. This can perhaps be the most important section What foods and supplies do you need? How you can prepare those foods without electricity. If you have kids, what extra precautions do you need?

Now is the time to prepare. Stop by http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ to learn valuable tips as well as get your free sample copy of the Home Office Recovery Plan. Plan today for a safer tomorrow.

Preparing for a Hurricane or Other Disasters

Hurricanes Are Coming -- Are You Prepared?


Margate, FL (September, 2008) Hurricanes are everywhere! Are you ready. If you haven’t prepared a disaster recovery plan, now is the time to do so. Think it won’t happen to you. That’s what so many believe and then find themselves lost without the information they need to rebuild quickly. Don’t be that person. Prepare now.


Diana Ennen, co-author of Home Office Recovery Plan: The Disaster Preparedness Guide for Your Home Business witnessed eight hurricanes in Florida including a direct hit from Hurricane Wilma. Ennen advises, "Being prepared for a hurricane or any natural disaster takes away the stress and anxiety. When timing is critical, I want to focus on the safety of my family, not on taking an inventory of my business, or deciding where I need to go. I also need to know that my family members will know how to find me after the disaster.”


Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, a First Responder in California and author of the fiction thriller Sledgehammer has firsthand disaster recovery experience and participated in various disaster relief efforts in California including the major earthquake in L.A. in 1994. He advised, "Loss of lives can be greatly reduced if everyone has a complete plan of action prior to the event. Not only with the reduction of heart attacks and stress related illnesses, but people tend to get to safety quicker if they have already planned ahead and know what they are going to do.”


Here are some steps to take to prepare:


Step One --Identify a safe place for everyone to meet. This pre-determined place should be discussed with family members prior to an emergency. A second location should be discussed. Also, out-of-town relatives should be advised of this location. Additionally, each person should have a list of phone numbers for immediate neighbors and family members. 3X5 index cards work well.


Step Two – Take an inventory now. Write down insurance policies including insurance company and contact information, policy numbers, group numbers, date of births, coverage, etc. Write down an inventory of valuables. Take photos.


Step Three -- Write down a complete family medical history. Include any medical conditions, medicines and dosages, doctors names and contact information, where medical records can be found, etc. Be specific. A life can truly depend on this one step alone.


Step Four – Get a copy of all important information, wills, trusts, mortgages, deeds, birth certificates, contracts, medical records, even household bills to help get things restored quickly, etc. Back-up your computer. Get extra cash. Often ATMs are down so cash is needed.


Step Five – Back up your computer system regularly. Whether you use your home computer for business or pleasure you want to be able to have a back-up available if it were to get damaged.The time to prepare is now. Stop by our site at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ for a free sample of the Home Office Recovery Plan today that has forms for all the above information. Diana Ennen is available for media interviews by contacting her at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com or (954) 971-4025.

Preparing for a hurricane -- Tips you need to know.

As we all prepare for the triple threat of Hurricanes & Hurricane Ike coming straight to S. Florida, we want to provide as much information as we can. Also, feel free to email me for our sample: Home Office Recovery Plan. diana@virtualwordpublishing.com . You need to

Insurance Information - Form to use

As you go to prepare this form, make sure you have all the insurance you need in effect. Check the DATES on the policies! Know your insurance needs and exactly what constitutes coverage. Don’t rely on someone’s interpretation of the policy unless it’s your agents. When questions arise, ask. For example, did you know the following?

Ø Many Homeowners Policies do not cover damage from a flood that accompanies a hurricane/storm.

Ø Windstorm insurance policies are not sold when a storm threatens, so you need to prepare in advance.

Ø There is also normally a 30-day waiting period before a new policy becomes effective.

Ø Once a storm warning has been issued, you cannot get coverage.



A. Record the pertinent information in regard to your insurance policies. List each type of insurance that you have. These include: Homeowner’s insurance, wind insurance, flood insurance, business insurance, renter’s insurance, etc.

Note: Be specific and careful when documenting numbers.


Your Address: _________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________


Insurance Company Name: (#1) __________________________________________

Kind of Insurance (i.e., Business/Home/Wind/Flood/etc.) ________________________

Insurance Address: ______________________________________________________

Insurance Phone: _______________________________________________________

Insurance Agent: ________________________________________________________

Insurance Policy Number: ____________________ Group #: ____________________

Additional Numbers: (Riders, etc.) __________________________________________



Insurance Company Name: (#2) __________________________________________

Kind of Insurance (i.e., Business/Home/Wind/Flood/Rent) etc.) ____________________

Insurance Address: ______________________________________________________

Insurance Phone: _______________________________________________________

Insurance Agent: ________________________________________________________

Insurance Policy Number: ____________________ Group #: ____________________

Additional Numbers: (Riders, etc.) __________________________________________



G.A. Personal Information

This information is critical to your care in the hospital should an event leave you injured and unable to inform others of your prior medical conditions. Often times, most family members are not aware of the exact medication(s) you may be taking and the exact names of your medical condition(s). If you’d like to test this theory, go ahead and ask any member of your family right now what medicines you take. I think you’d be surprised. For those with mental, heart, diabetes, and other conditions, it’s imperative to have this information at the beginning of treatment. You should have a bracelet with your medical condition on it, but we’ve found many don’t.

Name #1: _________________________________________________________

Doctor’s Name #1_________________________________Phone: _____________

Doctor’s Name #2 _________________________________Phone: _____________

Medical Conditions __________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Medicines and Dosage instructions:______________________________________________



Allergies: __________________________________________________________________

Blood Type: ________________________________________________________________

Pharmacy Name:__________________________________Phone:____________________

Additional Information: ________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

I hope you find these beneficial. Stop by our site for more information.

Diana Ennen, Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com