New In Paper: Feb 11-12

BRANDON — Local business owners should prepare for the possibility that severe weather could disrupt their operations — even when their facilities escape major damage, a climate resilience expert told the Brandon Chamber of Commerce last week.

Emilia Cameron of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction told attendees at a September luncheon the recent flooding and heavy rainfall across southern Manitoba affected several businesses.

“Businesses need to prepare not just for direct damages to buildings, but for wide disruptions that can prevent them from operating,” she said. “Road closures, power outages, damaged infrastructure, internet failures and employees being unable to reach work can all bring operations to a standstill.”

Supply chains can also be affected when suppliers cannot reach their customers, she said.