No matter how good you are as a businessperson and manager, there will always be circumstances beyond your control that can affect your business.

No one likes to think about such large-scale catastrophes as devastating hurricanes, earthquakes or — in today’s world — terrorist attacks. Fortunately, those events are rare, but smaller “disasters,” such as computer crashes and power outages, can wreak havoc on a small firm.

Preparing for the worst can help minimize the risk. Sample disaster plans are widely available on the Internet, including the SBA’s Web site, and can be customized for your business needs.

Here’s a short list of how to prepare to best protect your business, should disaster strike:

Review insurance policies. It’s smart for any business owner to take out property insurance policies, which cover the cost of replacing damaged or destroyed equipment or buildings. But also consider business interruption insurance, which covers lost income in the event that your business is forced to shut down temporarily.

Develop a contingency plan. Come up with a list of backup vendors or suppliers in case your primary ones are shut down. Consider alternative work sites so that you can keep operating. Keep a list of twenty- four- hour emergency numbers for all your employees, and develop a quick and efficient way of keeping employees informed.

Back it up. Make backup copies of all critical records, such as accounting and employee data, customer lists, production formulas and inventory. Keep that information in a separate location at least fifty miles away, or subscribe to a online data backup service provider.