Severe weather is a part of life in Queensland, and it doesn’t just affect homes, it can disrupt businesses too. From staff and customers to supply chains and day-to-day operations, the impacts can be significant. That’s why it’s essential to be prepared all year round.
Get Ready Queensland is here to help small businesses reduce disruption and recover faster when disaster strikes.
Know the three steps to get your business ready for severe weather.
1. Know Your Risk
Every business is different, so understanding your specific risks is the first step.
Take the time to assess how severe weather could impact your operations. Here’s what to consider:
Your location: Are you in a flood-prone area, cyclone zone, or bushfire region?
Is your business property likely to get cut off from suppliers due to flooding? What about customers?
Is there bushlands close by that would put you at risk of bushfire?
Check local flood maps and weather patterns to understand your risks.
Your industry: What are the unique risks for your type of business? For example, do you rely on perishable goods, specialised equipment, or time-sensitive services?
Your dependencies: What do you rely on to keep operating? Think about power, internet, transport, and staff access. How would disruptions to these affect your business?
Your supply chain: How would severe weather impact your suppliers, contractors, or delivery networks? Could you source alternatives if needed?
Hover over the interactive dots below or expand the checklist to explore some common scenarios that can occur in a disaster hit community and how to make a plan to protect what’s most important to you.
Depending on your physical location/s, you may be at risk of different types of natural disasters such as flood, bushfire, cyclone etc.
Important suppliers may be at risk which will impact their ability to provide goods and services to you during and after a natural disaster.
Customers relying on your services need to be considered both for their wellbeing and that of your business. Is there an alternative service you can provide during a disaster?
How you deliver your goods and services may impact your ability to continue during a disaster. For example, if you deliver goods that are reliant on major transport routes that are at risk of closure.
A disaster may prevent your employees from physically reaching your workplace, which will impact your ability to operate as normal. Employees may also be impacted by a temporary closure of your business. Are you employing foreign workers? Will they know how to look after themselves in a disaster situation? Managers and employees should understand when and how to evacuate safely from the workplace.
Have strategies in place for regularly backing up data and have spare keys and security codes ready on hand in an emergency.
Have strategies to ensure important records are on hand during an emergency. This could include employee, supplier and customers contact details, insurance details, product lists and specifications, latest stock and equipment inventory.
How will a disaster impact workplace conditions, and what measures will you put in place to keep your employees and customers safe.
An emergency kit should contain items to help you prepare to evacuate in a disaster situation, and provide protective measures and equipment for all employees.
Your identified risks should be addressed in your insurance policy to cover these risks. You should review your policy regularly.
Depending on your physical location/s, you may be at risk of different types of natural disasters such as flood, bushfire, cyclone etc.
Important suppliers may be at risk which will impact their ability to provide goods and services to you during and after a natural disaster.
Customers relying on your services need to be considered both for their wellbeing and that of your business. Is there an alternative service you can provide during a disaster?
How you deliver your goods and services may impact your ability to continue during a disaster. For example, if you deliver goods that are reliant on major transport routes that are at risk of closure.
A disaster may prevent your employees from physically reaching your workplace, which will impact your ability to operate as normal. Employees may also be impacted by a temporary closure of your business. Are you employing foreign workers? Will they know how to look after themselves in a disaster situation? Managers and employees should understand when and how to evacuate safely from the workplace.
Have strategies in place for regularly backing up data and have spare keys and security codes ready on hand in an emergency.
Have strategies to ensure important records are on hand during an emergency. This could include employee, supplier and customers contact details, insurance details, product lists and specifications, latest stock and equipment inventory.
How will a disaster impact workplace conditions, and what measures will you put in place to keep your employees and customers safe.
An emergency kit should contain items to help you prepare to evacuate in a disaster situation, and provide protective measures and equipment for all employees.
Your identified risks should be addressed in your insurance policy to cover these risks. You should review your policy regularly.
Depending on your physical location/s, you may be at risk of different types of natural disasters such as flood, bushfire, cyclone etc.
Important suppliers may be at risk which will impact their ability to provide goods and services to you during and after a natural disaster.
Customers relying on your services need to be considered both for their wellbeing and that of your business. Is there an alternative service you can provide during a disaster?
How you deliver your goods and services may impact your ability to continue during a disaster. For example, if you deliver goods that are reliant on major transport routes that are at risk of closure.
A disaster may prevent your employees from physically reaching your workplace, which will impact your ability to operate as normal. Employees may also be impacted by a temporary closure of your business. Are you employing foreign workers? Will they know how to look after themselves in a disaster situation? Managers and employees should understand when and how to evacuate safely from the workplace.
Have strategies in place for regularly backing up data and have spare keys and security codes ready on hand in an emergency.
Have strategies to ensure important records are on hand during an emergency. This could include employee, supplier and customers contact details, insurance details, product lists and specifications, latest stock and equipment inventory.
How will a disaster impact workplace conditions, and what measures will you put in place to keep your employees and customers safe.
An emergency kit should contain items to help you prepare to evacuate in a disaster situation, and provide protective measures and equipment for all employees.
Your identified risks should be addressed in your insurance policy to cover these risks. You should review your policy regularly.
2. Make a plan
A business continuity plan is your roadmap for staying operational during and after a disaster. It doesn’t need to be complex, but it should clearly outline:
Your priorities: Identify what’s most important to keep your business running.
Roles and responsibilities: Assign clear roles to your team so everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
Communication plans: Decide how you’ll keep staff, customers, and suppliers informed before, during, and after an event. Include backup communication methods in case phones or internet go down.
Operational strategies: Plan for how you’ll operate if conditions change. For example:
What will you do if you lose power or internet?
How will you manage if your premises are inaccessible?
Can your team work remotely or from an alternative location?
When severe weather is forecast, activate your plan early. Make sure your team is trained, knows their roles, and understands how to stay safe. Regularly review and update your plan to ensure it stays relevant.
View the following video from Business Queensland to find out more, and complete a business continuity plan (BCP) that outlines the steps your business needs to take before, during and after severe weather.
3. Pack an emergency kit to keep your premises and your staff safe
Being prepared means having the right tools and resources ready to go should your business be faced with severe weather.
Keep your emergency kit where you can quickly and easily retrieve it. Record in your business's emergency plan the contents of your emergency kit and ensure someone is responsible for keeping your kit up to date.
Hover over the interactive dots below or expand the checklist to find out what to include.
A properly equipped first aid kit can save lives. Make sure you include a first aid manual.
Your emergency kit should contain up to date copies of important documents. These can be photocopies kept in a waterproof bag, scanned copies stored on a USB flash drive or you could upload to the cloud. Business Queensland suggests the following plans, lists and documents: business continuity plan, evacuation plan, building site plan (useful during recovery operations), list of employee contact details, emergency services contacts, alerts and warnings services, list of customer and supplier details, product lists and specifications, latest stock and equipment inventory, insurance policies, financial and banking records, back-up of all data on USB memory sticks or external drives and spare keys or security codes.
A pair of sturdy gloves will help prevent injury and infection when handling rubbish and debris.
Pack 10 litres of drinking water per person at a minimum. You may need more if someone in your business has a condition which heightens dehydration or if you live in a very hot or dry climate. Plan what you will need and fill food grade jerry cans or bottles with drinking water. Every two or three months, empty the water onto plants and refill with fresh water.
A camera is useful to record any damage for insurance claims post-disaster. If you can avoid it, don’t use the camera on your smart phone to conserve the battery.
To protect important documents, hard drives and USBs from water damage.
Make a three-day menu plan to cover all your staff and store a supply of non-perishable food in your kit. Include non-perishable snacks, such as muesli bars.
To protect equipment and assets.
To brace windows during a cyclone or severe storm.
Make sure you have enough spare batteries to last three days. Ensure you have packed the correct battery type and quantities required for your torch, radio and any other equipment.
Although most tins have a ring pull, there are still quite a few for which you will need a can opener.
Include toiletries you will need for three days such as toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, personal hygiene products, sunscreen and insect repellent.
A battery powered radio is one of the most reliable items in a disaster especially during power and internet loss.
Even if your business is not damaged in a disaster, electricity may not be available and you could be left in the dark for quite a while, so include a torch (or two) or a battery powered lantern.
Pack wipes for your business emergency kit.
Pack hand sanitiser for your business emergency kit.
Pack face masks for your business emergency kit.
Pack tissues in your business emergency kit.
A properly equipped first aid kit can save lives. Make sure you include a first aid manual.
Your emergency kit should contain up to date copies of important documents. These can be photocopies kept in a waterproof bag, scanned copies stored on a USB flash drive or you could upload to the cloud. Business Queensland suggests the following plans, lists and documents: business continuity plan, evacuation plan, building site plan (useful during recovery operations), list of employee contact details, emergency services contacts, alerts and warnings services, list of customer and supplier details, product lists and specifications, latest stock and equipment inventory, insurance policies, financial and banking records, back-up of all data on USB memory sticks or external drives and spare keys or security codes.
A pair of sturdy gloves will help prevent injury and infection when handling rubbish and debris.
Pack 10 litres of drinking water per person at a minimum. You may need more if someone in your business has a condition which heightens dehydration or if you live in a very hot or dry climate. Plan what you will need and fill food grade jerry cans or bottles with drinking water. Every two or three months, empty the water onto plants and refill with fresh water.
A camera is useful to record any damage for insurance claims post-disaster. If you can avoid it, don’t use the camera on your smart phone to conserve the battery.
To protect important documents, hard drives and USBs from water damage.
Make a three-day menu plan to cover all your staff and store a supply of non-perishable food in your kit. Include non-perishable snacks, such as muesli bars.
To protect equipment and assets.
To brace windows during a cyclone or severe storm.
Make sure you have enough spare batteries to last three days. Ensure you have packed the correct battery type and quantities required for your torch, radio and any other equipment.
Although most tins have a ring pull, there are still quite a few for which you will need a can opener.
Include toiletries you will need for three days such as toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, personal hygiene products, sunscreen and insect repellent.
A battery powered radio is one of the most reliable items in a disaster especially during power and internet loss.
Even if your business is not damaged in a disaster, electricity may not be available and you could be left in the dark for quite a while, so include a torch (or two) or a battery powered lantern.
Pack wipes for your business emergency kit.
Pack hand sanitiser for your business emergency kit.
Pack face masks for your business emergency kit.
Pack tissues in your business emergency kit.
A properly equipped first aid kit can save lives. Make sure you include a first aid manual.
Your emergency kit should contain up to date copies of important documents. These can be photocopies kept in a waterproof bag, scanned copies stored on a USB flash drive or you could upload to the cloud. Business Queensland suggests the following plans, lists and documents: business continuity plan, evacuation plan, building site plan (useful during recovery operations), list of employee contact details, emergency services contacts, alerts and warnings services, list of customer and supplier details, product lists and specifications, latest stock and equipment inventory, insurance policies, financial and banking records, back-up of all data on USB memory sticks or external drives and spare keys or security codes.
A pair of sturdy gloves will help prevent injury and infection when handling rubbish and debris.
Pack 10 litres of drinking water per person at a minimum. You may need more if someone in your business has a condition which heightens dehydration or if you live in a very hot or dry climate. Plan what you will need and fill food grade jerry cans or bottles with drinking water. Every two or three months, empty the water onto plants and refill with fresh water.
A camera is useful to record any damage for insurance claims post-disaster. If you can avoid it, don’t use the camera on your smart phone to conserve the battery.
To protect important documents, hard drives and USBs from water damage.
Make a three-day menu plan to cover all your staff and store a supply of non-perishable food in your kit. Include non-perishable snacks, such as muesli bars.
To protect equipment and assets.
To brace windows during a cyclone or severe storm.
Make sure you have enough spare batteries to last three days. Ensure you have packed the correct battery type and quantities required for your torch, radio and any other equipment.
Although most tins have a ring pull, there are still quite a few for which you will need a can opener.
Include toiletries you will need for three days such as toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, personal hygiene products, sunscreen and insect repellent.
A battery powered radio is one of the most reliable items in a disaster especially during power and internet loss.
Even if your business is not damaged in a disaster, electricity may not be available and you could be left in the dark for quite a while, so include a torch (or two) or a battery powered lantern.
Pack wipes for your business emergency kit.
Pack hand sanitiser for your business emergency kit.
Pack face masks for your business emergency kit.
Pack tissues in your business emergency kit.
Why Prepare?
Preparing your business for severe weather isn’t just about protecting your premises - it’s about safeguarding your people, your operations, and your future.
Here’s why it matters:
Protect your people: Your staff are your most valuable asset. Make sure they know how to stay safe and what to do in an emergency.
Reduce downtime: The faster you can get back to business, the less impact severe weather will have on your cash flow and reputation.
Support faster recovery: Taking small steps now can make a big difference when disaster strikes.
If we haven’t convinced you, perhaps these business cases might.
The following videos showcase Queensland businesses who have invested in disaster preparedness activities, and how this has benefited their business, customers and employees.
Producers
Understanding which natural disasters or severe weather events are likely to occur in your area will help you prepare for events that are most likely to impact your business.
You can also Get Ready by downloading the Livestock Severe Weather Emergency Plan (2.17MB). The Get Ready Queensland Livestock Severe Weather Emergency Plan is designed to help primary producers prepare their property, livestock and business for severe weather.
Luke, a dairy farmer in Regency Downs tells us the importance of making a plan for your livestock.
Department of Primary Industries Natural Disaster Impact Survey will also support producers who have experienced losses or damage to their property during a disaster event. The information collected through the survey helps the Queensland Government determine the appropriate level of disaster recovery assistance to provide under jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Dealing with nbn outages
Equipment connected over the nbn access network will not work during a power outage.
Unplanned or unexpected outages to your nbn access network connection can occur for many reasons, such as severe storms, cyclones, bushfires, car accidents, or trees or branches falling onto power lines.
For more information visit the nbn website.
Find out more and Get Ready
Check out these other pages and resources to help you Get Ready.
