Designate a Disaster Management Team
        - These are the people (no fewer than two, preferably three) who will take charge during a crisis, make key business decisions and talk to the media.

Develop (and practice) an evacuation plan
          - Work with local fire marshals to train all employees on the different ways to escape the building and assist those with special needs (disabled).
       - Establish a common meeting place away from the building that does not block the street or driveway to allow access by emergency vehicles.
       - Know the safest route out of the area by car and on foot.

Establish a communications network
        - Each employee should have an updated emergency notification card on file telling how to reach at least one family member or nearby friend.
        - Each employee should have a list of one another's home and cell numbers.
        - If the newspaper has a voice mail system, designate a remote number for recording messages for employees about whether or when to come to work.
      - If there is no voice mail, develop a phone tree for reaching all employees about whether or when to come to work.

Assemble at least two disaster survival kits in lightweight duffel bags
      - At minimum, each kit should contain: flashlights, a portable radio, extra batteries, bottled water, non-perishable packaged or canned food, can opener, blanket(s), safety glasses, gloves, plastic utensils, toiletries (including feminine products), tools and a first-aid kit.

Develop a business continuity plan
        - Negotiate reciprocal agreements with neighboring newspapers or commercial printers so you can publish if there is press damage or long-term loss of power.
      - Check out local sites for use as short-term replacement office space.
      - Perform routine computer back-ups on disk or on tape, and store tapes off-site.
      - Get call-forwarding for the main business line so the phones can be programmed to ring elsewhere if the building cannot be occupied.
       - Determine leadership succession in the event of injury or death

                            - Sound the alarm or other signal to activate the evacuation plan.

                     - Retrieve survival kit(s), personal medications, cell phones.

                    - Stay calm and follow instructions of authorities in charge.

                    - Return to the building only when authorities say it is safe.
 

Things to remember:

                     - Review the disaster plan on a regular basis (at least quarterly).

                     - Perform evacuation drills and practice using the phone tree.

                     - Check and/or replace batteries for flashlights and portable radio.

                     - Note changes in names and numbers for all phone lists.