In 1998, during the great ice storm that hit Eastern Canada, Quebec stores assessed their losses at about $250 million. In February 2008, an arsonist blew up retail stores along West Broadway in Vancouver; not too long after that, a series of buildings along Toronto’s Queen Street went up in flames, completely destroying several retail businesses.

Disasters, whether manmade or an act of God, can put a successful retail business out of business. If a disaster knocks down your door, what will you do? This Retailer’s Guide examines the challenges that disasters can pose, discusses strategies for protecting yourself from liabilities, and offers tips for getting your business back up and running.

In this article, you'll learn about:

• What to do the day after
• Understanding insurance coverage
• Reviewing lease agreements
• Things you can do to prepare
• Things you can do to rebuild
• Protecting computer data