Disaster Preparedness Tips from Walmart Business

Stock up, document & build community

At Walmart Business, we’re committed to helping our customers build more resilient organizations no matter the challenges they may face.

That’s why we asked Brooks Nelson, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Disaster Preparedness and Response for Walmart, to share his advice for organizations like yours.

How to prepare your business

“The number one mistake is not having a plan in place,” Brooks said. “Many small and medium-sized businesses, as well as nonprofits, assume disasters won't happen to them. They don't think about business continuity or the impacts of natural hazards, data outages or cyberattacks. It's critical to do a hazard risk assessment and create a plan.”

The following three tips will help you and your employees prepare to respond.

Stock the essentials

A natural disaster or other emergency may result in employees and customers being stranded at your business for an extended period. Keep at least a three-day supply of essentials on hand to address this potential need.

Prioritize these items in your disaster preparedness stockpile:

• Food: Specially packaged emergency food supplies are easy to store and made to last a long time. You can also use staples with a long shelf life to create your own food stores. Additionally, make sure you have all the necessary tools to access and prepare the food, even in the event of a power outage.

• Water: The CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day. If you fill your own containers of water, replace their contents every six months.

• Battery-operated power sources: USB power banks will help keep phones usable in an emergency, but replaceable batteries are important for other devices, such as flashlights and radios.

• First-aid kits: Ensure your first-aid kit has enough supplies to address any emergent medical needs. Account for common concerns, such as latex allergies, when assessing their contents.

Keep a central record of the expiration dates for all your preparedness supplies so you know when to replace them. Once you know when specific products will expire, you can use a free Walmart Business account to schedule subscriptions and ensure those replacements arrive on time.¹

Document your assets

Keep up-to-date documentation for all your business assets in case you need to file insurance claims. Here are a few types of documentation to collect and retain:

• Photos of your physical space

• Receipts for important equipment or materials

• Online copies of critical documents

If your store, office or warehouse is affected by a disaster, take photographs before and after you clean the space. This will prove the extent of the damage to your insurance provider. The pictures will also serve as a reminder of how far your recovery effort has come once you get back to business as usual.

Prioritize community & relationships

Building relationships with other businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations is key to preparedness for two reasons: they open up access to the resources you may need to speed up your recovery, and they allow you to contribute to those same resources so you can give back when you’re able.

Walmart has a long history of utilizing our stores to provide immediate relief and ongoing support in local communities. Whether you have 10,000 locations or one, local relationships enable organizations to play active roles in recovery.

Get ready for what’s next

Looking for more ways to prepare your organization for success, no matter the situation? Create a free Walmart Business account and you can access a wide range of products, tips and helpful features, including free shipping on orders $35 and over.²

Sign up for a Walmart Business+ membership and you’ll get even more ways to support your business or nonprofit, including free shipping, no order minimum,³ and free delivery from store, $35 order minimum.⁴ You’ll also unlock access to a selection of helpful limited-time offers that help you save time and money.

You can’t predict the future, but the steps you take to protect your organization from disasters now could make a significant difference for both you and the community you serve.

¹ Shipping, delivery, and minimum order fees may apply. Eligible items only. Terms apply. 

² Free shipping: $35 minimum order. Excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges.

³ Excludes most marketplace items. Freight & location surcharges may apply.

⁴ Restrictions apply.