As administrative manager for an Encino dental practice, Melody LeBlanc had trained the staff on what to do when an earthquake hits. Even her husband knew the rules for handling a disaster.
But when the Chino Hills quake hit last month, one worker ran across the room and headed outside while patients looked around in panic for someone to tell them what to do. Then her husband called to ask if she had felt the moderate 5.4 temblor.
It was, of course, exactly what people were not supposed to do, said LeBlanc, who also co-chairs the disaster preparation committee at the Encino Chamber of Commerce.
Her staff knew they were supposed to drop to the ground and take cover. They knew to take patients to a window-free corner of the office. Her husband knew to stay off the phone for the first 30 minutes after a disaster to allow emergency calls to get through.
"Here we are, the big activist, always pushing hard and talking to everybody, and the first thing that happens is everybody reverts back to things they remembered from when they were 10 years old," LeBlanc said.
The chamber, of which she is a past president, has made disaster preparation a priority.
The scene that day was an eye-opener for a woman who gives earthquake preparation kits as Christmas presents and has long stocked the office kitchen with emergency supplies, including water and canned goods.
It could serve as a wake-up call for your small business, too.
Next month is National Preparedness Month. The motto -- "Get a kit, make a plan, be informed. and get involved" -- could be a mini-checklist for small-business owners who intend to stay in business after an earthquake or other disaster.
Locally, the Great Southern California ShakeOut, which is based on successful drills held in Japan, is scheduled for November. The organizers plan to release a preparedness booklet for small and medium-size businesses next month.
Here's a sneak peak at their advice:
Seven steps small businesses can take to prepare for a disaster:
* Identify and fix potential hazards. These can be as obvious as filing cabinets or display cases that have not been secured to the walls. Less obvious: boxes on a shelf next to an emergency exit. A good shake can knock them down and block the door.
Ask your employees for input. Tour your space, inside and outside. Learn where the utilities are located. Don't forget to look up.
