Few voluntary organisations have formal disaster plan

8:17 am on 19 March 2011

A business advisory firm says a survey of almost 250 organisations suggests many have a lax approach to disaster recovery plans.

Grant Thornton conducted the survey after the Christchurch earthquake last September, and before the one in February.

A partner at the firm Brent Kennerley says the just 36% of the incorporated societies and charities that replied have a formal disaster plan in place.

Their plans included backing up important documents, procedures for restoring computer information and having contacts for key employees.

Mr Kennerley says a third of those with a recovery plan did not circulate it to board members or employees.

A quarter did not have their plan tested.

Mr Kennerley says Grant Thornton will follow up the results, highlighting to voluntary organisations the risks they run by not having a disaster recovery plan.