Messages from Brenda Rocklin

March 2012

This is not a drill

When SAIF tells employers how important it is to prepare for disaster (see the spring 2010 and fall 2011 issues of Comp News), we take our own advice. Over the past year, we have been developing a new disaster response plan, and, on January 3, we tested it with an earthquake drill. We discussed what we had learned on January 17, and I hoped to have another drill as soon as possible. Turns out, the opportunity came two days later, but it was no drill. It was a flood, and we tested our plan under the pressure of rising water in two of our office buildings and a river flowing through our parking garage.

By the end of the day on January 19, we had four feet of water in our Church Street conference building, three inches in our Parkway building, and more than a million dollars worth of damage. It will be months before the first floor of either building will be completely operational.

We learned a few things—mostly that, other than a few adjustments, our plan worked. In spite of all three Salem offices being either closed or having operations severely limited, payments to injured workers were processed on time, service to our customers was never disrupted, and every SAIF employee went home safely. By responding quickly, we prevented a lot of damage. For example, we saved documents and some furniture from flooded areas, and we had all our fleet cars moved to a safe location by 6:00 a.m.

We also learned the importance of communicating early and often: We sent frequent email updates to employees and used two-way radios for those dealing directly with the flooding. Keeping employees informed is so important that your own disaster recovery plan should include an alternate method of communication if your network is down and email isn’t possible.

Being prepared with emergency supplies and prioritized checklists certainly helped us respond quickly to this disaster, but we also had employees who pitched in to help in any way they could. That really made our response a success.

We’re hoping that we won’t see another natural disaster anytime soon. But if we do, we’ll be even better prepared to handle it.

Brenda JP Rocklin
President and CEO 

November 2011

2012 CN calendar focuses on exports 

Dear SAIF policyholder,

The International Trade Study, conducted in 2010 by ECO Northwest, found that approximately one-quarter of Oregon's manufacturing jobs depend on exporting, and that most Oregon exporters are small- and medium-sized businesses. We are pleased to feature 13 of these exporting businesses—all SAIF policyholders—in this year's calendar.

Each one helps connect Oregon to the world economy. We hope you enjoy learning more about them and the products they export in our 2012 Comp News calendar. and, whether your products or services are exported or consumed within your own community, we appreciate your business and wish you a safe and healthy 2012.

Brenda JP Rocklin
President and CEO

Fall 2011

Tornado destruction in the Willamette Valley?
Tsunami damage in Curry County?

Yes, it can happen here

Those recent events—both within the past 10 months—prove that it’s wise to be prepared for a disaster at all times, no matter where you are.

Those are just two of the reasons why SAIF recently spent a great deal of time and effort to update our emergency response and business continuity plans. We want to be sure that injured workers and policyholders can count on us, no matter what.

We cannot serve our customers if we haven’t protected our employees, so taking care of their safety is an important part of our plan.

I sleep a little better at night knowing we have planned for emergencies. If you don’t have a plan, be sure to read “Blown Away” for an explanation of business continuity, tips to get you started, and the story of a company that took a direct hit from the tornado.

And as always, feel free to contact me at breroc@saif.com with questions or comments about this issue.

Brenda JP Rocklin
President and CEO