Business Continuity

The Business Continuity Team concentrates on ensuring the economic resilience of Bainbridge Island post-disaster by equipping businesses with contingency plans to facilitate a rapid recovery. This contributes to the island's overall wellbeing and livability both pre- and post-disaster.

In alliance with the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, this team advocates for proactive planning among local businesses and organizations for scenarios when normal operations are disrupted, such as a post-earthquake situation where access to bridges and ferries could be compromised.

Mission and Community Impact:

The Business Continuity Team forms a pivotal part of our disaster resilience strategy, focusing on strengthening the economic resilience of North Kitsap County communities, including Bainbridge Island. Their mission is to ensure that local businesses and organizations have robust contingency plans in place for emergencies when standard operations are hindered. Collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, they advocate for proactive planning to enable a swift recovery after disasters. Their work directly impacts the livability and wellbeing of our community post-disaster, reinforcing the resilience of our local economy, which is the cornerstone of our community's overall strength.

Begin preparing your organization with this step-by-step guide for businesses from the Do1Thing organization.

About the Team:

The Business Continuity Team is a vital player in our community's disaster preparedness efforts. They are committed to helping local businesses and organizations survive and recover from disruptions, like those experienced during a major earthquake or the recent pandemic. By learning from these challenges and planning for future incidents, they ensure that local businesses can not only survive but also contribute to the community's recovery efforts. The team's initiatives significantly bolster our community's resilience and capacity for swift recovery, affirming the essential role they play in sustaining the vitality of our local economy. You can contact the Chamber of Commerce directly for additional information.

Three Pillars of Resilience

A 45-minute talk on the crucial connections between business continuity, neighborhood resilience, and personal preparedness, presented by Bainbridge Prepares Founder and Board Chair Scott James to an audience of West Coast and Hawaiian chapters of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO). A special thanks to JP Werlin and the EO Seattle chapter for allowing us to let us post the recording on our website.

Resources and Questions

  • Before a major disaster occurs, the Business Continuity team focuses on proactive preparation and planning with businesses and organizations. They conduct risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and disruptions that could affect business operations in the event of a disaster. Using these insights, they help develop comprehensive business continuity plans tailored to the specific needs of each business or organization.

    These plans typically include strategies for maintaining or rapidly resuming essential functions, protecting physical assets, managing supply chains, ensuring the well-being of employees, and communicating effectively with stakeholders during and after a disaster. The team also offers training and resources to help businesses test and refine these plans, ensuring that they're robust and practical.

    Through these efforts, the Business Continuity team aids in fostering a resilient business community that's well-equipped to withstand and recover from a disaster, ultimately contributing to the overall economic resilience of the North Kitsap County communities.

  • Upon activation, the Business Continuity team works closely with local businesses and organizations to help them execute their disaster recovery plans. They assist in identifying crucial business functions and processes, helping to minimize disruption and ensure as smooth a recovery as possible.

  • The Business Continuity team is activated when a significant event threatens to disrupt normal business operations, such as an earthquake, pandemic or other disaster that may render transportation, supplies and infrastructure unusable.

  • To request support from the Business Continuity team, businesses and organizations can reach out directly to the Chamber of Commerce.

    ”The team stands ready to offer guidance, resources, and support for business continuity planning.

  • If you're interested in helping local businesses prepare for and recover from disaster scenarios, you can volunteer for the Business Continuity team. The team welcomes volunteers from various backgrounds, especially those with experience in business, disaster recovery, or related fields. To sign up, you can fill out the volunteer application available in the volunteer section.