Planning what to do in case of a disaster is an important part of being
prepared. Some simple steps can help you protect financial and tax
records in case of disasters.
1.
Take Advantage of Paperless Record keeping for Financial and
Tax Records
Many people receive bank statements and documents by e-mail.
This method is an outstanding way to secure financial records.
Important tax records such as W-2s, tax returns and other
paper documents can be scanned onto an electronic format.
Be sure you back up your electronic files and store them in a
safe place. Making duplicates and keeping them in a separate
location is a good business practice. Other options include
copying files onto a CD or DVD.
When choosing a place to keep your important records,
convenience to your home should not be your primary concern.
Remember, a disaster that strikes your home is also likely to
affect other facilities nearby, making quick retrieval of your
records difficult and maybe even impossible.
2.
Document Valuables and Business Equipment
One option is to photograph or videotape the contents of your
home and/or business, especially items of greater value. You
should store the photos with a friend or family member who
lives away from the geographic area at risk.
3.
Continuity of Operations Planning for Businesses
How quickly your company can get back to business after a
disaster often depends on emergency planning done today. Start
planning now to improve the likelihood that your company will
survive and recover. Review your emergency plans annually.
Just as your business changes over time, so do your
preparedness needs. When you hire new employees or when there
are changes in how your company functions, you should update
your plans and inform your people.
4.
Update Emergency Plans
Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Personal and
business situations change over time and so do preparedness
needs.
