“The startling part of this research is the fact that SMBs don’t realize the impact their outages have on customers, particularly when they have tools at their fingertips to help them be prepared to deal with disasters,” said Pat Hanavan, vice president, Backup Exec product management, Symantec. “While no one wants a disaster to occur, the reality is that they happen. Rather than continuing to be unprepared, small and mid-sized organizations can take simple steps to protect their data. And, as companies communicate their plans to their customers, they strengthen those relationships and become a trusted partner.”

Confidence High Regarding Preparedness

The findings show that SMBs are confident in their disaster preparedness plans. Eighty-two percent of respondents say they are somewhat/very satisfied with their disaster plans, and a similar number (84 percent) say they feel somewhat/very protected in case a disaster strikes.

SMBs also believe their customers will be understanding and patient if there is a disruption to their computer or technology resources. In case of such an outage, only one-third (34 percent) of SMB respondents believe their customers will evaluate other options, including looking at competitors.

Reality Shows Confidence Unwarranted

However, the practices of SMBs reveal that this confidence is unwarranted. The average SMB has experienced three outages within the past 12 months, with the leading causes being virus or hacker attacks, power outages or natural disasters. This is alarming as almost half report they do not yet have a plan to deal with such disruptions.

The survey found that only one in five (23 percent) SMBs back up daily and an average SMB backs up only 60 percent of their company and customer data. More than half of the SMBs estimate they would lose 40 percent of their data if their computing systems were wiped out in a fire.

Customers Significantly Impacted By Downtime

SMB customers surveyed estimated the cost of these outages as being $15,000 per day on average. These outages were impactful as well, with 42 percent lasting eight hours or more. One in four customers (26 percent) reported losing important data.

According to the findings, two in five (42 percent) SMB customers have actually switched vendors because they “felt their vendor’s computers or technology systems were unreliable.” This is a stark contrast to the two-thirds of SMBs who believe their customers would either “wait patiently until our systems were back in place” or call “to get what they could, but would wait patiently for the rest until our systems were back in place.” Another side effect of downtime is damage to the company’s reputation. Sixty-three percent of the customers reported that downtime damaged their perception of the SMB vendor.

Recommendations

Although 47 percent of SMBs do not have a formal disaster preparedness plan, of those without plans, nearly 89 percent say they will create one within the next six months. This is crucial as most SMBs (77 percent) report they live in a region that is vulnerable to natural disasters (such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes). As these organizations create plans, Symantec has the following recommendations:

• Determine your needs: SMBs should take time to decide what critical information should be secured and protected. Customer, financial and business information, trade secrets and critical documents should be prioritized. In addition, SMBs should monitor industry reports that help to identify and prevent threats that SMBs face.
• Engage trusted advisors: With limited time, budget and employees, SMBs can look to a solution provider to help create plans, implement automated protection solutions and monitor for trends and threats that SMBs should protect against. They can also educate employees on retrieving information from backups when needed and suggest offsite storage facilities to protect critical data.
• Automate where you can: Automating the backup process ensures that it is not overlooked. SMBs can reduce the costs of downtime by implementing automated tools that minimize human involvement and address other weaknesses in disaster recovery plans.
• Test annually: Recovering data is the worst time to learn that critical files were not backed up as planned. Disaster recovery testing is invaluable and SMBs should seek to improve the success of testing by evaluating and implementing testing methods which are non-disruptive.

Symantec’s SMB Disaster Preparedness Survey

Symantec’s SMB Disaster Preparedness Survey is the result of research conducted in August and September 2009 by Applied Research, which surveyed those responsible for computers and technology resources at small- and med-sized businesses. The report was designed to gauge the impact and stage of disaster recovery preparedness, perceptions and practices of small- and med-sized businesses. The study included more than 1650 respondents from 28 countries in North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Asia Pacific and Latin America

The meeting — part of the second offering of an Emergency Management Planning, Preparedness, Training and Education Workshop for Colleges and Universities — is designed to provide schools and their leadership with an introduction to emergency management, a basic overview of EMI’s higher education programs and an opportunity to hear from  leading professionals in the field of emergency management.

“FEMA is only one part of our nation’s emergency response team,” said Administrator Fugate. “As we work with our partners in the states, the private sector, and across the federal government to build this team, it is imperative that we continue to engage those who are responsible for developing the next generation of emergency managers and community leaders. Today’s meeting was an important step in the process, and I thank the leadership from HBCUs across the country for their interest and willingness to engage their students in the important field of emergency management.”

Approximately 40 HBCU executives were scheduled to attend. The agenda included an introduction to emergency management, information on FEMA’s higher education program, DHS and FEMA funding opportunities for colleges and universities, and a tabletop exercise focusing on the university/college participation in preparing for their own disasters and partnering with the community as part of their emergency management plan.

Residents of Los Angeles and Southern California who want to be prepared for the next big earthquake can now take advantage of the most complete earthquake kit on the market. Disaster Survival Solutions, a company located just miles from the epicenter of the 1906 earthquake, has taken all the guesswork out of earthquake preparedness and is now delivering and installing the QR Center to Los Angeles area residents.

Residents of Los Angeles and Southern California who want to be prepared for the next big earthquake can now take advantage of the most complete earthquake kit on the market. Starting today, Disaster Survival Solutions, a company located just miles from the epicenter of the 1906 earthquake, has taken all the guesswork out of earthquake disaster preparedness and is now delivering and installing the QR Center to Los Angeles area residents.

“The QR Center has been very popular with families in Northern California but we’ve also received dozens of enquiries from folks in Southern California who are equally eager to prepare for survival after a big earthquake,” says Chris McCloy, founder of Disaster Survival Solutions. “The QR Center is available for immediate home delivery and provides complete peace of mind. It enables a family of up to seven people, plus pets, to be completely self-sufficient, outside their home, until state and local resources, and the private sector, are able to respond.”

In Southern California, the last major earthquake on the San Andreas fault occurred 150 years ago (1857), rupturing the fault from Central California to San Bernardino. Further south along the San Andreas fault, from San Bernardino through the Coachella Valley to the Salton Sea, over 300 years have passed since the last major earthquake (around 1690). Another major earthquake is likely to happen on this section of the fault within our lifetime. When it does, all of Southern California will be shaken and many areas may be heavily damaged.

The Quake Relief Center is the only earthquake kit that addresses the fundamental reality that many people will be homeless after an earthquake. It is housed in a durable weatherproof deck box that is designed to be located directly outside the home and contains everything needed to be self-sufficient after a big quake: a personalized disaster action plan, all the supplies needed to live outside for up to a week, and an annual inspection to ensure the kit is fresh and ready to go. With a QR Center, just minutes after a natural disaster occurs, residents of Southern California can feel safe, knowing they will have a secure, warm, sheltered environment with lighting, hygiene essentials and a week’s supply of food and water.

The QR Center is sold in various sizes from 2-person through 7-person. All kits include everything needed to survive outside the home for up to a week as well as the Quake Relief Plan - two comprehensive binders that contain step-by-step instructions for before, during and after an earthquake. One binder is stored inside the box, and a second binder is kept inside the home. Copies of vital emergency contact information are printed on small cards that can be stored in wallets, purses, and children’s backpacks. Survival kits for cats and dogs are also available.

Disaster Survival Solutions provides the resources families need to sustain themselves for a week or more during a major disaster. The company delivers, installs, and maintains customized QR Centers supplied with the highest-quality provisions. Company experts also provide customers quarterly e-newsletters full of timely information about how to protect their families during a catastrophic event. Located near San Francisco, Disaster Survival Solutions is committed to its customers’ safety and well-being, and is 100 percent focused on ensuring its customers and their families get disaster preparation as well as stay prepared in earthquake country. On the web at www.qrcenter.com.

Assistance for the State and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency plan measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Application procedures for local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

Mr. Russell, whose official first day as Region VI Administrator was Monday, December 21^st, has coordinated the federal disaster response and recovery support to state and local emergency management officials as a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) from FEMA Region VIII for more than six years. He has managed a diverse collection of complex disasters and emergencies in Washington, Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, North Dakota, Illinois, New Mexico, and Montana, among others.

Most recently, Mr. Russell served as Acting Director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office (LATRO) where he led a staff of over 1,300 FEMA personnel working at various strategic locations and offices throughout the state. Through this position, Mr. Russell played a central role in streamlining the assistance process, working with the governor, Louisiana Recovery Authority and congressional members.

In his new role as Regional Administrator, Mr. Russell will continue to work closely with officials in Louisiana, as well as leaders in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas - the additional four states in Region VI - leveraging regional as well as national resources as we expand our nation’s emergency response team and as recovery efforts in the region continue. While this transition takes place, Mark Landry, who currently serves as the deputy director, will be the interim director at the LATRO until a permanent director is identified.

Mr. Russell holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico. He went on to obtain a Masters of Arts (MA) in Management and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from National University and a Masters in Homeland Security Studies from the Naval Post Graduate School. In addition, Mr. Russell has earned the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation.

FEMA’s regional system is composed of ten independent regions. Region VI includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. For more information on FEMA’s regions please visit http://www.fema.gov/about/regions/index.shtm.

“People are concerned, and they are looking for help. Our phone rings constantly all day, and we had to find a way to help people more effectively and efficiently. We decided to create a series of tips and suggestions to help our customers overcome the problems associated with preparing for emergencies and disasters,” explained Jeff Augason of Blue Chip Group, Inc.

Augason said the series of tips can be received one at a time by E-mail by going to the company web site at http://FoodStorageIdeas.com

“We wanted to make it easy to learn, and easy to implement, and we do not want to send so much information all at once that it intimidates people who are new to food storage. We also want to offer suggestions to help people make emergency and disaster plans in all aspects of their lives, not just food issues. So our tips deal with many topics and are not just a sales pitch for buying our food products. We just want to be helpful,” said Augason.

Each individual tip is sent by E-mail one at a time to enable people to receive very focused suggestions dealing with one subject at a time. Subjects covered include such things as How to Select the Right Foods to Store; Emergency Water Supplies; Do Not Count on Government Agencies to Rescue You; A Family Evacuation Plan; Food Storage Shelf Life; Pets During Emergencies; and Have a Family Communications Emergency Plan.

Founded in 1972 by Phil Augason, Blue Chip Group, Inc. is a family-owned business that provides high quality storage foods in bulk quantities to save money. The foods are designed for regular daily use and to and help customers prepare for troubled times. The company offers sales from a retail outlet at 432 West 3440 South in Salt Lake, or purchased by mail order online. Many of the Blue Chip Group products are available at the Macey’s grocery stores in Utah.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private non-profit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson, and Thayer.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Stephen R. Thompson has been named the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Thompson said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability for disaster preparedness and emergency plans.

“An effective Disaster Case Management services program connects survivors with local providers that can target recovery services to assist them in developing and achieving short and long-term recovery goals,” Zimmerman said. “FEMA and our partners seek to offer disaster survivors a roadmap for navigating and maximizing the use of available federal, state, local, non-governmental and volunteer organization disaster recovery programs. Our goal is to build on the foundation and the network of services that exists to ensure that survivors have a holistic approach to rebuilding their lives in the wake of a disaster event. The bottom line is this new interagency agreement will improve our ability to help disaster survivors.”

“HHS’ Administration for Children and Families is pleased this agreement focuses on holistic case management,” said David Hansell, HHS/ACF principal deputy assistant secretary, who testified today. “Our mission is to assist states in rapidly connecting children, families, the elderly and persons with disabilities with critical services that can restore them to a pre-disaster level of self-sufficiency that maintains clients’ human dignity. The agreement helps accomplish this goal.”

This agreement is a component of FEMA’s interim two-phase disaster case management model that can be applied to a presidentially declared disaster designated for Individual Assistance if a state requests disaster case management and it is approved by FEMA. The first phase consists of a rapid deployment of case managers, by ACF, to the disaster-affected areas to begin work with disaster survivors immediately after FEMA approves a state’s request for these services. These teams will assist individuals and families develop a disaster recovery plan and help disaster survivors progress toward their short and long-term recovery goals. Case managers will be able to connect survivors with local resources to assist with disaster-related unmet needs, such as housing, medical and employment needs.

The second phase in this model consists of transitioning the case management services to a state-managed program funded through a direct grant from FEMA. This ensures that the state is an essential partner in the development, implementation and delivery of ongoing case management services and that the use of local service providers in the recovery for disaster survivors and their surrounding communities will be maximized.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from the September 29 earthquake, tsunami and flooding can continue to meet face to face with SBA customer service representatives to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans. No appointment is necessary at the center to speak with a representative.

Although the deadline to apply for property damage loans has passed, SBA is still offering working capital loans of up to $2 million at an interest rate of 4 percent with terms up to 30 years for small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of any size. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

These loans provide vital economic assistance to small businesses affected by the disaster to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The filing deadline to return Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications is June 29, 2010. SBA customer service representatives can answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application.

Since President Obama declared American Samoa a disaster area, SBA has approved $6.2 million in low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses. SBA is committed to helping individuals and business owners rebuild their homes, their businesses, and their lives as quickly as possible.

Anyone with questions for the SBA may call (684) 633-0920 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the natural disasters like severe storms and flooding in the counties of Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Cross, Dallas, Franklin, Fulton, Grant, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saint Francis, Scott, Sharp, Stone, Union, Van Buren, White, and Woodruff that lie within the designated counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

W. Michael Moore has been named the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Moore said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.