When flood warnings arrive before the continuity folder does
A practical sequence for Otago and Southland operators who need to act in the first day of rising water — even if the formal plan is incomplete.
Flood warnings on the Taieri or Clutha catchments rarely wait for perfect documentation. If your continuity pack is thin, focus the first day on three lists: people, premises, and payments.
People. Who cannot reach the usual site, and who can open an alternate space? Write mobile numbers on paper as well as in shared drives — phones drown in pockets and chargers fail when power drops.
Premises. Photograph stock locations and critical equipment before water arrives if you still have access. Note which rooms hold records that cannot be replaced from a backup elsewhere.
Payments. Confirm how wages and urgent supplier payments proceed if the office desktop is offline. Many regional firms still rely on one authorised signatory; name a deputy before the road closes.
After the water recedes, schedule a Continuity Readiness Review while memories are sharp. The best plans are written from recent friction, not from a quiet week in spring.