Disaster Recovery

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A hurricane, natural disaster, or any other crisis in the workplace can bring a business to a screeching halt and devastate the lives of a business’s most valuable asset — its employees.

To minimize the impact of a natural disaster, companies should have various plans in place before disaster strikes, such as a crisis management plan, a communications plan, and a disaster response and recovery plan. These plans must take into account the effect a catastrophe may have on workers and include ways to help impacted employees return to work as soon as practical to ensure continued productivity of the workplace even in the face of personal loss. Any enacted plan should also consider the application of relevant federal and state laws to ensure compliance and avoid any employment-related lawsuits or any agency enforcement actions following a natural disaster.Continue Reading Planning for a Catastrophe – Tips for Ensuring Proper Communications

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Lisa Bresler, Unsplash

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1, and TSR (Tropical Storm Risk) forecasts 17 to 25 named storms this year. In weathering these storms, many businesses will face property losses, often accompanied by business income losses. Most commercial property policies incorporate business interruption coverage and extra expense insurance. The complexity of a business interruption claim, however, combined with the disruption of cash flow to pay continuing expenses creates a difficult scenario for business owners in these situations. 

In general, business interruption and extra expense losses may be covered when they are caused by physical loss or damage to covered property, other covered conditions such as damage to a “dependent business,” or an order of the civil authority, such as an evacuation order, as defined in the policy. There may also be limitations on coverage, such as for power loss occurring outside the covered property, among others.Continue Reading Preparing a Business Interruption Claim Best Practices

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The annual hurricane season is once again upon us. With the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration’s prediction of a higher-than-average active season, now is the time for businesses to review their internal policies and make any necessary preparations should a storm impact your area.

By their very nature, disasters are unpredictable. But it is possible to prepare for and recover from such unforeseen events. During a crisis, information is a businesses’ most important tool and clear, timely client communications are our top priority. Jones Walker’s cross-disciplinary Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Client Team advises companies, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from unforeseen crises. We understand the myriad legal issues that arise when drafting, communicating, and implementing disaster-preparedness plans, and have extensive experience representing clients as they work through the aftermath of a major event.Continue Reading Natural Disaster Preparedness – Serving Clients Through Disasters

As they weather this year’s storm season, many businesses will experience property damage, often accompanied by business income losses. Most commercial general liability policies will provide business interruption coverage and extra expense insurance as an adjunct to property coverage. However, the complexity of a business interruption claim coupled with a pressing need for operating capital…

With hurricane season upon us, employers are justifiably concerned about the potential impact of a natural disaster on their business. A hurricane, natural disaster, or any other crisis in the workplace, can bring a business to a screeching halt and devastate the lives of a business’ most valuable asset, its employees. This article was first published in the wake of Hurricane Katrina based on lessons learned in managing through that crisis. These lessons continue to ring true year after year, crisis after crisis. Thus, we continue to update and republish this article each hurricane season.

To minimize the impact of a natural disaster, employers should have plans in place before disaster strikes, including, for example, a crisis management plan, a communications plan, and a disaster response and recovery plan. These plans must take into account the effect a catastrophe may have on workers and include ways to help impacted employees return to work as soon as practical to ensure continued productivity of your workplace even in the face of personal loss. Any enacted plan should consider the application of relevant federal and state laws to ensure compliance and avoid any employment-related lawsuits or any agency enforcement actions following a natural disaster.
Continue Reading Planning for a Catastrophe

With hurricane season upon us, employers are justifiably concerned about the potential impact of a natural disaster on their business. A hurricane, natural disaster, or any other crisis in the workplace can bring a business to a screeching halt and devastate the lives of a business’s most valuable asset, its employees.

To minimize the impact of a natural disaster, employers should have plans in place before disaster strikes, including, for example, a crisis management plan, a communication plan, and a disaster response and recovery plan. These plans must take into account the effect a catastrophe may have on workers and include ways to help impacted employees return to work as soon as practical to ensure continued productivity at the workplace following a natural disaster. Any enacted plan should consider the application of relevant federal and state laws to ensure compliance and avoid any employment-related lawsuits or any agency enforcement action following a natural disaster.
Continue Reading Planning for a Catastrophe

Louisiana’s legal community has grown accustom to offering pro bono legal assistance to Louisiana storm victims. After addressing foremost concerns like shelter, food, water, and clothing, disaster victims are left to grapple with more intricate setbacks like insurance claims and FEMA appeals, landlord-tenant disputes, contractor fraud and contract disputes, custody and domestic disagreements, consumer issues, …

A federal disaster declaration has been issued in Louisiana for Orleans and Livingston Parishes following the tornadoes and severe storms that hit South Louisiana on February 7, 2017. The declaration was issued on February 11, 2017, by President Donald Trump upon the request of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.

FEMA individual assistance will be available…

Tom Cook’s article in the Baton Rouge Business Report provides helpful insight on the meaning and application of FEMA’s “substantial damage” standard to Baton Rouge homeowners affected by the August floods. Cook explains that determining “substantial damage” is a bit of “a mystery,” and that online research of the term may prove bewildering.

In short,…