Business Management
CSIA
csiaonline.org
29
CENTRAL STATES INSULATION ASSOCIATION
csiaonline.org
Again, advance planning comes to the 
rescue. Every company should maintain a 
comprehensive list of employees in a document 
called a “calling tree” that specifies who will 
contact whom when disaster strikes. A well-
organized protocol will obviate redundancy and 
ensure everyone is informed. “You don’t want 
to end up with signals crossed when multiple 
people try to contact each other,” said Rice.  
Internet disruption may obviate the use of email, 
so the calling tree should also contain phone 
numbers, physical addresses, and the names 
of each individual’s alternative contacts in the 
form of friends and family. 
Finally, the calling tree should specify who will 
reach out to customers, suppliers, and service 
firms that can undertake repairs.
Having a plan is one thing. Ensuring everyone 
understands it is another. Regularly scheduled 
drills will help employees react automatically 
when an event occurs. “We recommend regular 
exercises during which team members talk 
through potential scenarios,” said Kates. “These 
rehearsals ensure the plan is realistic and will 
actually work during a crisis.”
Review insurance
You’ve got insurance that backs up your 
emergency response plan with financial 
assistance that will help maintain operations. 
But is your insurance the right kind?
“Insurance policies must cover the specific 
perils identified by a company’s risk 
assessment initiative,” said Kates. “Too often, 
businesses discover they don’t have the right 
coverage for the damages encountered.”
Coverage levels also need to be regularly 
updated. “The cost of building materials keeps 
going up,” said Rice. “Policies must be updated 
continued on pg.30

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