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Tools to help your business prepare for bushfire season

There are many useful and official resources to help businesses prepare for summer bushfire season and other risks.

It’s also essential to have the right insurance cover in place so that if your business does experience a natural disaster, you can get back on its feet as fast as possible.

Let’s look at some of the resources you can access to help manage your natural disaster risks and why you might need them.

Develop an emergency management plan

An emergency plan is vital to businesses looking to reduce risks. If you already have a plan, make sure to review it to make sure it’s fit for purpose with increased risk of extreme weather.

The Federal Government has guidance on how businesses can create an emergency plan. It includes emergency management templates and guidance on how to create one.

Emergency planning tools

The Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub also houses a range of tools to help businesses in each state prepare for an emergency.

It also includes tools to help you understand how effective your emergency plan is likely to be.

“An emergency plan is vital to businesses looking to reduce risks”

Stay informed

This interactive map allows anyone in Australia to see information on disaster-affected Local Government Areas.

Through this regularly updated map, you will find general data, hazard impacts, and the areas in which there is recovery and support available.

It also shows previous disasters, so you can see whether your area has been affected by floods or bushfires in recent years.

Followofficialinformation

It’s important to follow official sources of information if you’re concerned about extreme weather or natural disasters in your area.

You can find more information on your state through the following links:

Do you have the right insurance cover?

Insurance can be complicated and with high stakes, it’s not worth guessing. That’s where an insurance broker can help.

An insurance broker works for you, not the insurer. They are qualified experts who can help you better understand your risks and the right cover to protect your specific business needs.

This tool allows you to find a Steadfast broker within your postcode. Backed by the strength and scale of Australia’s largest general insurance broker network, a Steadfast broker can help you negotiate the right insurance cover within your budget.

Important notice

All information in this article is of a general nature only. This article does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. It is also not financial advice, nor complete. Deductibles, exclusions and limits apply to insurance. Cover differs between insurers.

SteadfastGroupLtdACN073659677

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El Nino is here – what does your business need to do?

How to prepare your small business for El Nino

After enduring three ultra-wet summers, Australia is in for some extreme weather of a different kind.

In September 2023, The Bureau of Meteorology declared the country was officially experiencing El Nino weather patterns. That occurs when Pacific Ocean temperatures rise, resulting in a shift in atmospheric circulation.

In Australia, that typically means hotter temperatures, reduced rainfall and increased fire danger. With it comes heightened risk for property and business owners.

Last time the country suffered through an El Nino phase was in 2019-2020 when the Black Summer Bushfires resulted in 39,000 insurance claims, totalling $2.32 billion, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

With another big dry session upon us, there’s the potential for bushfires to affect both your business premises and your day-to-day operations.

Here are some measures that could help your business become more bushfire-resilient this summer.

Maintain your premises

Regular maintenance can help to make your building and its surroundings less flammable. Clean the gutters, clear leaf litter and other green waste from around the premises and ensure any combustible materials are safely stored.

Strengthen your defences

Depending on the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating of your premises and your budget, you may consider investing in some building modifications. For example, installing fireproof shutters and fitting seals around doors and windows can help to slow the spread of fire and reduce the damage it can cause.

Plan for the worst

Even if your premises aren’t directly affected, being in a bushfire zone can disrupt your operations. That’s why it’s important to have a continuity plan that details the steps you’d take to maintain ‘business as usual’. Depending on the nature of your business, it might include identifying an alternative location, securing back-up suppliers in case yours are unable to deliver and ensuring your business information is backed up in the cloud so it’s accessible from anywhere.

Review your insurance

Insurance can help you recover, should your business be impacted by bushfire.

Understanding what your property policy covers is critical, according to the ICA. Current BAL ratings may mean a premises needs to be repaired or rebuilt to a higher standard. Building costs inflation may also see you having to spend more than you expected, to make good any fire damage. Obtaining a quote for a complete rebuild from a reputable builder can help you determine whether your current cover is adequate.

It’s also important to consider the ongoing expenses you’d have if your business ceased generating revenue for an extended period – think wages, supplier invoices and loan repayments. Business interruption insurance can help you get through the crisis by protecting your cash flow and helping your business keep running after a catastrophic event.

“Having appropriate insurance in place can help to mitigate the risk posed by extreme weather events, including bushfires.”

Cover for all conditions

Having appropriate insurance in place can help to mitigate the risk posed by extreme weather events, including bushfires.

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your cover, now is a great time to check whether your policies still meet your needs. For a conversation about your cover, contact your broker today.

Speak with a broker today

Reducing your insurance costs with rising costs can be tempting, but it’s a trap you should avoid.

It’s a more important time than ever to focus on the right protection. Speak with a broker today about your needs and whether you have the right cover.

Important notice

All information in this article is of a general nature only. This article does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. It is also not financial advice, nor complete. Deductibles, exclusions and limits apply to insurance. Cover differs between insurers.

Steadfast Group Ltd ACN 073 659 677

Important notice-Steadfast Group Limited ABN98073659677 and Steadfast Network Brokers

This article provides information rather than financial product or other advice. The content of this article, including any information contained in it, has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of the information, taking these matters into account, before you act on any information. In particular, you should review the product disclosure statement for any product that the information relates to it before acquiring the product.

Information is current as at the date the article is written as specified within it but is subject to change. Steadfast Group Ltd and Steadfast Network Brokers make no representation as to the accuracy or