This document provides an introduction to disaster recovery planning for businesses. It explains that a disaster recovery plan helps businesses anticipate, address, and mitigate the effects of a business disruption or disaster to return to normal operations. The plan has two main components: an emergency response plan to address immediate response, and a business continuity plan to address short and long-term continued performance of essential functions. Developing a disaster recovery plan can help reduce disruption, minimize chaos during an event, and protect a business, with the goal of keeping the business operational through a disaster.

1. An Introduction to
Disaster Recovery Planning
South Central Economic Development District
PO Box 79│Holdrege, NE 68949│308.995.3190

2. Overview
1. What is disaster recovery planning?
2. Our primary objective
3. Why do you need to plan?

3. What is disaster recovery planning?
Disaster recovery
planning helps Business
Continuity
businesses to Emergency
Response Business
anticipate, address as Usual
and mitigate the
effects of a business Business
Disruption or
disruption and Business
Disaster
hopefully return to as Usual
a state of “business
as usual.”

4. What is a disaster recovery plan?
A users’ guide and documentation
for how to protect and preserve an
organization during and after a
disaster or emergency.
Two main components:
1. Emergency Response Plan
2. Business Continuity Plan

5. 1. Emergency response plan
Can include but not limited to:
• Emergency procedures for evacuation
and shelter-in-place
• Internal warning system
• Contact information for employees
• First aid kit and emergency supplies
• Individual preparedness

6. Example:

7. 2. Business continuity plan
Can include but not limited to:
• Essential functions
• Hazard and vulnerability assessment
• Delegation of authority
• Communication plan
• Facilities and equipment
• Vital records and data
• Essential personnel
• Insurance

8. Example:

9. The difference
An emergency response plan
usually addresses only the immediate
response to an incident.
A business continuity plan
addresses the immediate response
and also short-term & long-term
continued performance of essential
business functions.

10. Emergency management cycle
Prevention/ Planning/
Mitigation Preparedness
Recovery Response

11. Prevention & Preparedness
Prevention
measures help us avoid
hazards and lessen the
impact of events.
Ex. Smoke detectors, safety procedures, insurance
Preparedness
measures help us
anticipate the response
needs of an event.
Ex. Communication plan, training and drills, emergency kits

12. Response & Recovery
Response procedures
help us identify the
immediate steps to
respond to an event.
Ex. Procedures to save lives and property
Recovery procedures
help us restart business
processes in the short
and long-term.
Ex. Damage assessment, operate critical business functions

13. Business continuity plan
Prevention/ Planning/
Mitigation Preparedness
Recovery Response

14. Our primary objective
Provide resources and tools
on the components of a
business continuity plan

15. Why do you need to plan?
According to some estimates,
up to 40% of small businesses,
which experience a disaster,
never reopen their doors.

16. Why do you need to plan?

17. Why do you need to plan?
If the unexpected does happen, your
business continuity plan may be the
difference between your business
recovering or failing from the event.

18. Why do you need to plan?
In addition to:
• Reducing the disruption of business
operations
• Minimizing the chaos of an event
• Protecting facilities, equipment, assets
Small businesses play a key role
in the Nebraska economy
and in local communities!

19. Is this you?

20. Then take the next step….
The most difficult part is
getting started!