Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

The fires raging across California point to something businesses with physical structures need to consider strongly, and that is how to approach and be prepared for major disasters.

We have to keep in mind that there is no way we can prepare for every eventuality, and so much focus on those that have the potential to cause the most harm or damage.

It could be something as simple as having available escape routes from within the store, to available safety routes one can take on the highway if there is bad weather or fires like are going on now.

Like everything else, it needs to be thought of before something hits, not wait until it happens as some businesses do. It's too late by then.

Here's one way the Los Angeles Times is helping people in the region, by offering a frequently updated Google Map that can be accessed across a number of areas and categories.

Malibu devastated by wildfires

Some of the policies and plans we can have in place should be related to unstable or threatening people, tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, power outages and flooding. Things like these should be planned for in advance, and our people trained in how to respond.

The top priority should always be the safety of people first, and then everything else follow at a distand second.

All of this of course sounds elementary and obvious, but many businesses don't have plans in place for major disasters, but they need to. We have a responsibility to our people and customers to make sure we're ready to help them in dangerous situations.