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The 3 Biggest Myths About Disaster Preparedness

(And Why They’re Dangerous.)

No one ever gave a thought to the possibility that the 47-year-old Francis Scott Key Bridge in East Baltimore could ever collapse.

Nonetheless, at 1:26 a.m. Tuesday morning, March 26, 2024, the 985-foot-long cargo/container ship Dali struck a primary bridge pier, causing the bridge span to fall within seconds into the Patapsco River, killing 6 bridge workers and disrupting an entire economy.

No other vehicles were traveling on the bridge at the time of collapse due to the rapid response of the ship’s Port Pilot, who quickly sent out a “Mayday” alert just 90 seconds before the collision. State police immediately took action to close the highway leading to the bridge, saving countless lives. No other vehicles, aside from the work crew, were on the bridge as it collapsed.

The response to this tragedy by the ship’s pilot and subsequently by the Maryland State Police was incredibly well executed, to say the least. I applaud the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for the outcome of their disaster preparedness program and implementation of the plan which unquestionably saved lives in this tragedy.

As a small and micro business owner for over 30 years, I can attest to the reluctance of business owners to focus on disaster preparedness. Money is a scarce commodity and extra people are even more scarce. It’s hard to spend money on unforeseen occurrences.

Therefore, when it comes to disaster preparedness the myths that persist are extremely dangerous, potentially leading to inadequate preparation and vulnerability. Here are the three biggest myths I have found that prevent business owners from creating a comprehensive plan:

Myth #1: Disasters Won’t Happen to Us: One of the most prevalent myths is the belief that disasters only happen to others or larger businesses. As the collapsing Francis Scott Key Bridge teaches us, disasters can happen anywhere, to anyone, and in the most unexpected places. Hundreds, if not thousands of small businesses and their employees have been impacted by the collapsing bridge. Ignoring the potential of this reality can leave businesses vulnerable to significant financial losses, operational disruptions, and in particular, business failure.

Myth #2: Disaster Preparedness Is Expensive: Another common myth is that effective disaster preparedness requires significant financial investment. While some aspects of disaster preparedness may involve costs, there are many low-cost or no-cost measures that businesses can take to improve their resilience. For example, creating a comprehensive emergency plan, conducting regular training and drills, and establishing partnerships with other businesses or community organizations for mutual support during emergencies.

Myth #3: We Can Handle It When It Happens? Think again. When disaster strikes, reactivity simply won't cut it. Imagine the chaos if the Baltimore OEM had no formal plan during a crisis. Don't leave your business's future up to chance. Instead, proactively identify and prioritize potential risks. Develop a robust disaster recovery plan tailored to your business's unique needs. It's not only about surviving the storm, but also recovering with resilience. Be equipped. Be prepared. Secure your business against all types of disasters today with our customized disaster recovery plans for small business owners.Myth #3:

Why These Myths Are Dangerous

False Sense of Security: Believing that disasters won’t happen or won’t affect one’s business can lead to a costly false sense of security, breeding complacency and a lack of urgency in taking necessary precautions. This in turn leads to greater losses and potential business failure.

Underestimation of Risk: Dismissing the importance of disaster preparedness leads to underestimating the potential impact of disasters resulting in loss of market share, loss of confidence in your business by the marketplace, financial losses, damage to property, disruption of operations, and uncertainty by employees and customers that leadership is capable of protecting them. Failing to adequately prepare for these risks can leave businesses hugely vulnerable to actual losses as well as legal losses and becoming ill-equipped to recover.

Financial Burden: The misconception that disaster preparedness is expensive may deter small and micro businesses from investing in necessary precautions. However, the cost of not being prepared for a disaster can far outweigh the cost of implementing preventive measures. By budgeting small amounts of funding towards emergency prep and doing many little things over time, your business will get more resilient against crisis-causing disruption little by little.

Ineffective Response: Relying solely on improvisation and reactive measures in the face of a disaster will surely lead to ineffective response efforts. Without a master preparedness and communications plan confusion, disorganization, and delays in recovery efforts will be the result.

Don’t risk losing your business due to inaction. Addressing and understanding the impact of these myths requires a shift in mindset towards disaster preparedness. By recognizing the importance of preparation, understanding that disasters can happen to any business at any time, and investing in risk mitigation measures, small and micro businesses can better position themselves in the market and increase their chances of survival in the face of adversity.