Before the next time you hear hurricane --think inland flooding!

Conduct another walk-through of your organization's business continuity plan. Look for business and computing changes since the plan was originally implemented, last tested, or revised. Determine what changes in the plan may be required-- and then make them.

Check your hurricane and flood emergency action plan and update it as necessary. If there are changes, make new copies and distribute it to all staff members. Put a copy of the plan on a website hosted at your organization's hot site.

Contact the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) [1] pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners.

Work with your state and local community, which should have a Hazard Mitigation grant. Authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. Hazard mitigation planning is an important aspect of a successful mitigation program. States and communities use the hazard mitigation planning process to set short and long-range mitigation goals and objectives. Hazard mitigation planning is a collaborative process whereby hazards affecting the community are identified, vulnerability to the hazards are assessed, and consensus reached on how to minimize or eliminate the effects of these hazards. In recognition of the importance of planning, States with an approved enhanced State Mitigation Plan in effect at the time of disaster declaration may receive additional HMGP funding. For more information, please visit the Planning website [2] .

Verify the operation of the standby generator, if present. Check that its fuel tank is full and that the fuel is uncontaminated (this should be done on a regular basis by the physical plant manager, but follow up with them -- don't let it slip ).

Double check information with outside disaster recovery vendors or suppliers; notify them of any changes in your situation or needs. Cross check all of your services and costs with accounting so you will have the latest information.

Make sure the building's grounds crew carefully trims all trees so they don't pose a threat to the facility. Ideally there will be no trees close enough to the building to cause direct damage. Dead wood should be removed to reduce wind-blown debris.

Contact your insurance carrier and review your policy. They will also probably want to review your business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Make sure that replacement equipment or collections are covered. Ensure that copies of updated insurance papers are included in your disaster supplies--and are stored at your hot site for protection.

Set in as many flashlights that you'll need around your office and data center. Count the number of flashlights you think you will need and then double the number that you actually put around. Mark your emergency flashlight positions on a floor plan that is kept off site (preferably as a part of your systems continuity and disaster recovery plan).

If you can't communicate, you can't lead! Test your emergency communications plan. Run through all of the ....

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