Get up and running quickly after a computer disaster Suppose you open your doors for your township one morning only to discover that water damage from heavy rains the night before has shorted out your computer equipment, leaving your automated systems in operative. Perhaps an overnight power failure has wiped out a large portion of your critical electronic records. Without warning, your entire township operation could be in jeopardy. Fortunately, this type of disaster need not be a major setback for your township. By taking the right steps now, you can get yourself up and running with minimal delay. Insure yourself against electronic data processing losses- Standard commercial insurance packages don't cover losses relating to computers and other electronic equipment. Electronic Data Processing (EDP) insurance is specifically designed to fill this gap. An EDP policy covers your electronic data processing equipment, all your computer data and the disks or tapes on which it is stored, as well as additional costs necessary to continue normal township operations after a disaster through its coverage up to your set limit. EDP insurance protects against a wide range of threats including damage from water or other liquids, rust, corrosion, mechanical breakdown, changes in temperature and humidity, power fluctuations, sewer backups, theft, vandalism, and earthquakes.		Back up your systems regularly From important records to accounts receivable and payable, you undoubtedly rely on a cast store of electronic data. If this information were lost it could be expensive and time-consuming--and, in some cases, impossible--to recreate. Make it a practice to back up your critical data each night and to store the backup data in a safe, offsite location. It is also a good idea to keep a second backup copy from the previous day. Practice recovery drills Even if you have the foresight and commitment to back up your systems on a regular basis, how quickly could you get your computers up and running if disaster strikes? Do you know exactly how to restore the data? Are you sure the tape drive you use for backups is still compatible with your system and is not outdated? The best way to answer these questions is to run a practice drill occasionally. This will confirm your backup tapes are free of defects, and that you could indeed respond quickly in a true emergency. In today's township environment, you cannot afford to lose a day to a computer shutdown. Townships that plan ahead are in the best position to keep disruption to a minimum. Following these steps can help get your township up and running quickly if disaster strikes. To learn more about the specific type of coverage you have, please contact your sales representative or CSR for more information.

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