Ever stop to think how much money a company loses due to snowstorms.  Many sat and home today and for some executives who continue to pay employees even though they cannot work, it’s a big worry.  See below… 

“John Berry, director of the federal Office of Personnel Management, said that the 270,000 government employees in the region would lose a week of work if Washington receives 20 inches of snow. Major stock exchanges in New York are expected to remain open. Trading, which is primarily conducted electronically, is not likely to be affected by the storm. Officials in Washington estimate that each day agencies are forced to close in Washington costs the government approximately $100 million in lost productivity, although the total is lessened by the increased capacity of government employees to work from home. The Insurance Information Institute reports that major winter storms can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in broader economic losses.”

Work from home is essential during these times.  A well-laid out Business Continuity Plan is essential.  That includes step-by-step operating procedures and the supporting IT and people required.  I personally take my own medicine and use the procedures in ResilienceONE (my company’s Business Continuity Software) to fully operate during any type of outage.  If all you have are general narratives in your plan, you are not prepared.