Businesses should prepare for pandemic.

• Position: Your Life

As economists and health experts warn of massive disruption to the global economy in the event of an avian flu pandemic, many U.S. businesses just now are beginning to look at ways to prepare for the possible health, social, and economic impact of this potential crisis. Disaster Recovery Institute International, Falls Church, Va., which offers business continuity training and certification, urges the business community not to delay in considering the impact of a pandemic and adjust their business continuity plans accordingly.

"Risk evaluation and thorough planning for a pandemic is essential to safeguarding the most crucial asset of any company--its workers," cautions John Copenhaver, DRII president and CEO. "Business leaders need to start asking themselves tough questions about their preparedness for this kind of global catastrophic event, and they need to prepare now to respond quickly and effectively, and to adjust pandemic preparedness plans as circumstances change."

DRII recommends that businesses should:

* Track avian flu and other biological threats, and regularly review continuity plans and update them in response to new information.

* Maintain open and honest communication--make workers aware of the avian flu threat and the steps the company is taking to prepare.

* Assess business continuity preparedness for a...