It's only August, yet the U.S. has already spent $1 billion on natural disaster recovery this year.

This figure doesn't even scratch the surface of our total disaster spending, though. You must consider disasters like the pandemic, social unrest, and murder hornets, too.

With everything that could go wrong in 2020, it's best that you get your business prepared. Not sure why you need a disaster recovery plan in place? We've got your back. Read on to learn five reasons why you need to start planning today.

1. Prevent Permanent Data Loss

Remember how hard it was to build up your customer base? Imagine a disaster sweeping through and erasing all those years of hard work.

Believe it or not, this happens to millions of businesses that fail to create a disaster recovery plan. You should invest resources into backing up data. Otherwise, recovering from natural disasters will be a huge hassle.

To prevent permanent data loss, store information on the cloud or external servers. Never leave your business at the mercy of your physical hardware.

2. Reduce Human Error Risks

You already know how prone to error your employees are. After all, that's why you must keep a professional first aid kit on site to remain compliant with the law.

One human error, especially online, can ruin your business, though. For example, an employee might click on a malicious link. That link could leave your private business data at the mercy of hackers.

Reduce the risks of human error by crafting a disaster recovery plan. Your plan should include steps to take in the event of a virus or hack.

3. Protect Your Brand

Your company's brand is everything when it comes to building loyal customers. If you get struck by disaster or experience a data leak, then your image will suffer.

Protect your brand with a recovery plan. In the event of disaster, you'll reassure your customers that you've got things covered.

4. Your Business Is Vulnerable

Think your business or industry is safe against disasters? Think again! There are countless types of disasters that could strike including:

• Extreme weather events
• Physical device damage
• Human error
• Cyber crime
• Technology failure

This broad range of threats span all industries. No matter your niche, you're vulnerable to certain threats. Putting a plan in place can stand between you and failure.

5. Ensure a Swift Recovery

Did you know that 90% of businesses will fail within two years of experiencing a disaster? Don't let your company become a part of that statistic.

Creating a disaster recovery plan ensures a swift recovery. Not only will you protect important data, but you'll also have steps in place to re-open ASAP. If you don't have a plan, then you risk starting over from scratch after a disaster.

Not only could this tank your profits, but it could also lead to your demise.

Is Your Disaster Recovery Plan Up-To-Date?

If 2020 has taught us anything so far, it's that we need to prepare for emergencies. There's a whole host of reasons why you should have a disaster recovery plan. It protects you, your employees, and your customers.

Is your disaster recovery plan up-to-date? Do you have all the materials and supplies you need? If not, then be sure to head over to our safety supplies section and start stocking up.