Business Resilience: How to Better Protect People, Assets, and Operations

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – A comprehensive hurricane preparedness plan helps businesses respond quickly, reduce operational risks, and recover faster after a storm.

By combining emergency planning with accurate hurricane forecasting and real-time weather monitoring, organizations can improve safety and operational resilience throughout hurricane season.

It was a message that was reiterated during the Disaster Risk Management Authority’s three-day Business Continuity Planning Workshop, held at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.

Nearly 100 businesses took part, learning how to prepare, adapt, and recover when disaster strikes.

The programme is part of a broader push to build business resilience across the country.

Managing Director Aarone Sargent shares how this initiative is taking shape.

Aarone Sargent – Managing Director, Disaster Risk Management Authority

“We are here today to continue expanding the work of the authority, to continue expanding the work of what you do in the business community and helping us ensure that you are a part of this whole-of-community approach to disaster management.”

The workshop also allowed business owners to voice their needs while ensuring critical operations can survive and recover in a disaster, by putting their plans to the test.

Assistant Managing Director with responsibility for Resource Mobilization, NGO Relations and Communications, Dominique Martin, says this session is answering that call.

Dominique Martin – Assistant Managing Director, Disaster Risk Management Authority

“Business owners from here in New Providence, but we also on Thursday will have a hybrid session that will accommodate some of the businesses from the Family Islands. So all of the participants here today were respondents from our survey and told us that this is their need, they need support. The majority of them either indicated that they don’t have business continuity plans or they have very early-stage plans, so our goal is to help them get those plans.”

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for the DRM Authority, McKell Bonaby, says there are key takeaways every business owner should remember.

McKell Bonaby – Minister of State, Office of the Prime Minister

“Prepare your business to withstand disruptions, be prepared to adapt when circumstances change, recover quickly while continuing to serve your customers, employees and the wider community. And remember, your ability to recover quickly is also a competitive edge. When you are prepared, we all win. Your participation here today is not only about protecting your own businesses, but it’s also about ensuring that, as a business community, you continue to be the driving force behind the little engines that drive our big economy.”