Strategic Management for Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers: Positive Change for Sustained Excellence

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Contingency Planning

After 36 hours without electricity, I know that my contingency plan, which is supposed to ensure emergency preparedness for the business, is not up to snuff.

  • It's not up to a foot of snow and 20 degree temperatures.
  • It's not up to hauling firewood from the back of the property (not quite 50 yards) in a bushel tub.
  • It's not up to a generator with a pull starter that I'm too puny to pull (thank goodness for helpful neighbors).
  • It's not up to a cable Internet connection without power to run the modem and the router.
  • It's not up to conducting business from a cell phone that is email enabled but not Windows enabled.
  • It's not up to .... okay, enough whining. You get the picture.
My contingency plan needs re-working. My clients were all sympathetic and understanding. We rescheduled a few phone calls and changed a few due dates. How about your contingency plan? Placerville, California, a town of less than 10,000, had at least a couple of dozen insurance agents - none of whom could open their offices. There were downed tree limbs all over the area - some across roadways, some on power lines but others on the roofs of homes. According to the local paper this morning, there was a "moderate" increase in vehicle collisions reported to the local California Highway Patrol Office. You know there were a lot of folks trying to reach their insurance agents or the company claims office, or both.

How would you have fared in this situation?

Need help bringing your contingency plans up to date? Here are a few good things to help you in your planning. If you would like additional help, please feel free to e-mail me to discuss the status of your contingency plans: pam@transformationadvisors.com

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