How quickly your company can get back to business after a terrorist attack or tornado, a fire or flood, or a hurricane often depends on emergency planning done today.

The North Port Area Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 2010 Business Disaster Planning Workshop for local area business owners this week.

The free workshop will be held Saturday in the Juliano Room of the North Port Library at 13800 S. Tamiami Trail, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Seating is limited and registration is required. Register on the North Port Chamber’s website at www.northportareachamber.com or call the chamber office at 941-564-3040.

Though each situation is unique, any organization can be better prepared if it plans carefully, puts emergency procedures in place and practices for all kinds of emergencies, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

America’s businesses form the backbone of the nation’s economy; small businesses alone account for more than 99 percent of all companies with employees, employ 50 percent of all private sector workers and provide nearly 45 percent of the nation’s payroll, the SBA states.

A commitment to planning today will help support employees, customers, the community, the local economy and even the country. It also protects your business investment and gives your company a better chance for survival.

The workshop will be led by Richard Berman, Emergency Management coordinator for the city of North Port Fire Rescue department. The following topics will be discussed: facility disruption; workforce shortage; developing, training and exercising an emergency plan; preparing your building; checking insurance coverage and enhancing cyber-security. • • •

I would like encourage everyone to mark their calendars for the annual Kidfest & Film event, sponsored by the North Port Chamber, which will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the George Mullen Activity Center greenway, off Sumter Boulevard near City Hall. The community is invited to enjoy a wide variety of free and low-cost activities for children and families while having the opportunity to learn more about local businesses and organizations. There will be games, food, kids’ activities and community demonstrations provided for all to enjoy.

In addition, North Port Fire Rescue will conduct a “side-by-side” burn demonstration. Two 8-foot-by-8-foot rooms will be constructed, furnished alike and set on fire to show how rapidly fire spreads and engulfs a room — except the second room will have a sprinkler head in it. This will demonstrate how quickly one fire sprinkler head will control a blaze, fire officials say.

At 6 p.m., the movie “How to Train Your Dragon” will be shown outside on the Pop Warner football field for the entire family to enjoy. There are many sponsorship and vendor participation opportunities that will provide businesses the opportunity to interact and promote their company to the community. To learn more about the Kidfest & Film event or to get sponsorship and vendor participation information, visit www.kidfestnorthport.com.

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For more information about your North Port Area Chamber of Commerce or any of its upcoming events, call 941-564-3040 or visit www.northportareachamber.com.

Bill Gunnin is executive director of the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce.