New Orleans Celebrates Mardi Gras

Lance Bass, Kevin Costner, Billy Ray Cyrus, Hulk Hogan and Salt-N-Pepa all joined parade krewes and some 800,000 revelers in New Orleans today to celebrate Mardi Gras. Now two years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina things are almost back to their wacky abnormalcy in the Crescent City. “The biggest misconception about New Orleans is that we are still under water and that we are still closed for business” said Laura Drumm, owner of Tabasco Country Store.

While Drumm says her sales are getting stronger, most small businesses never recover from a natural disaster. “More than 43% of all businesses that close down following a disaster never open their doors again,” says Claire Wilkinson of the Insurance Information Institute. You can’t stop a natural disaster like a hurricane or tornado from happening, but there are some key steps to take to protect your business. “You have to consider the financial impact of your business if it is shut down for a day, a week, or an entire revenue period,” says Wilkinson.

Begin by developing a disaster recovery plan. “Analyze and survey your business to identify what it needs to protect when facing a natural disaster, says Wilkinson. “Most small businesses do it themselves, but you might consider hiring a consultant to help with these plans.” Once you have a recovery plan, train your employees on how to carry it out. “Compile a list of important phone numbers and addresses to get in touch with key people after the disaster,” says Wilkinson. “Decide on a communication strategy to avoid any loss of customers.” Wilkinson suggests anything from posting notices outside of the business door, to emailing and phoning customers just to keep in contact with them.