Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and Client Technology Coordinator, Brenda Khalil, discuss how to protect your business from natural disasters and severe weather.
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Host: Alyssa Burley
Guest: Brenda Khalil
Editor: Jadyn Brandt
Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence
© Copyright 2025. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
transcript
Alyssa Burley: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive.
I’m your host, Alyssa Burley, and today I’m joined by Brenda Khalil, Client Technology Coordinator with Rancho Mesa. We’re going to discuss how to protect your business from natural disasters and severe weather.
Brenda, welcome to the show.
Brenda Khalil: Happy to be here Alyssa!
AB: Now, at the time of recording this, some of the largest fires in California state history are burning across Los Angeles, and we saw a lot of extreme weather across the country in 2024. Now, severe weather and natural disasters are somewhat unpredictable in severity, but having a safety plan in place can help save time and lives.
So Brenda, what can employers do to be sure they are prepared in case of a weather emergency or natural disaster?
BK: Well first, a good safety plan begins with adequate preparation. And taking steps to protect your property before any risk occurs can minimize damage in the long run. A formalized emergency action plan (or EAP) is an excellent resource to share with employees to ensure they are prepared for any emergency. An EAP should include procedures for reporting emergencies, escape procedures, names and contact information of all employees, and procedures to account for all employees after an evacuation.
In the specific case of a wildfire, there are a few steps business owners can take to ensure they are able to manage their fire risk. Compliance with all fire and safety codes in your area is a necessity. And regular landscaping around your building—including lawns, brush, and trees—can also mitigate potential wildfire risk, especially if you are located in a more remote area.
AB: Absolutely. And a template to create your own emergency action plan can be found on Rancho Mesa’s RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal.
Once you have a plan in place, what should you do to make sure all of your employees understand what to do in case of an emergency?
BK: That is a great question. You should always be sure to train your employees on what to do in case of a natural disaster. Employees should always be kept up-to-date on current emergency evacuation plans and procedures. Staff should be provided maps of evacuation routes and safe-zones in the area to minimize confusion in the event of a workplace evacuation. Also, you can assign emergency-specific roles to key personnel and ensure they are trained to perform critical functions as needed. It’s also advised to train all employees on your businesses emergency response procedures.
AB: Right, and there are a number of emergency planning, first aid, fire prevention and other safety toolbox talks and online training courses are available through SafetyOne™ which can be used to train staff on the proper ways to deal with fire hazards and other emergencies. And, emergency preparedness and fire preparedness training can also be found on Rancho Mesa’s RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal.
Now, communicating policies and trainings beforehand is definitely important, but how important is it to establish a communication plan for use during a natural disaster?
BK: That part is super important, as good communication is key in keeping your business and employees safe during a natural disaster. So be sure employees always have access to safety information, either by sharing it electronically or by posting it to a central location.
An intercom system or software that sends automatic alerts to staff are also good resources for sharing important emergency information with employees. It is also important to respond quickly, yet calmly, to help eliminate panic and ensure that all employees vacate the premises safely.
Rancho Mesa’s SafetyOne™ platform allows company administrators to send push notifications not only to app users, but also via text and email to the entire organization and to specific groups that may be affected by an emergency.
AB: Right, you want to make sure everyone is on the same page when disaster strikes, especially when there is no time to waste.
Now, some weather events might be so severe they force temporary office or jobsite closures.
How should an employer respond in this situation?
BK: Good question. Be sure to check what laws and regulations are in place in your state regarding employee compensation and paid leave. Developing a plan for maintaining essential business operations during and after a natural disaster can help keep operations moving smoothly. This may include developing remote work capabilities and a modified work schedule. Also, remember, emergency preparedness is an ongoing process that requires regular reviews and updates to remain effective.
AB: Alright Brenda, that was a lot of great advice for anybody looking to prepare their business for natural disasters and severe weather.
If clients have any questions about Rancho Mesa’s emergency preparedness resources, what’s the best way to contact you?
BK: As always, clients can contact me at bkhalil@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at (619) 486-6562.
AB: All right, well Brenda, thanks for joining me in StudioOne™.
BK: Thanks for having me!
AB: Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne™. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at RanchoMesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
