ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF BUSHFIRES
Episode 5
Key Messages
Renae:
‘If we don’t have business that are thriving and are profitable, then we can’t have communities that survive and thrive as well.” We are IN the future era of disasters, natural (bushfire) and un-natural (power failures, telco difficulties, pandemics). No community / business can avoid this. You must be ready to adapt.
Corporate 2 Community:
Help build resilient businesses
Helping Communities thrive
Leading Collaboration
A big upskilling is required in all businesses across Australia. Understanding and integrating an awareness culture into their everyday business as usual.
FEMA – Federation of Emergency Management (US) – After major disaster, 40% of small businesses don’t reopen and up to 90% are closed within 2 years.
Top 3 recommendations:
Think about the moment when you’re planning for an evacuation, being right in the moment – what are the key elements that will support you? E.g. Might have lots of customers ringing. Pre-recorded messages for these events. Build
Build networks. Have your 3am friends.
Think differently and do differently. Disasters are going to be different. What are the different types of insurance you need to consider – the multiple impacts of disasters.
Sharon:
A good season for us is a season with not too many total fire ban days. Wye River gave us the opportunity to live through a fire without being directly impacted. Great learning experience. After after Black Saturday, we felt we were well resourced and had lots of information.
The visitor economy respond to where fires are and are not. When Grampians were in danger, more people came to the Otways.
Business Interruption Insurance – some revenue protection – not in a pandemic.
Must do your homework and have the backup information to support any future insurance claim.
Top 3 recommendations:
Business Interruption Insurance.
Total Fire Ban Policy and Communications pack.
Bushfire plans for your family and business need to be aligned. Do they complement each other?
RESOURCES:
https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool
https://corporate2community.com/what-if-wednesday/
https://corporate2community.com/
Sharon:
https://open.spotify.com/show/73xQnagRP9Rx7NlyuPIhoS?si=I-dpDrp_TJiZGY1WN4nA0A
https://open.spotify.com/show/4mhHAeXTeggGm3uGNJ4oXe?si=Du3a8quvRFO27ceTi1SODQ