Disasters-both natural and man-made-are a part of the human condition. But when a disaster strikes, most people are unprepared. The inevitable result is loss of life and property. But it doesn't have to be this way

In "Resilience, " Dr. Robert A. Collins, an urban planner and social scientist, explains how business owners survived Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters and shows you how you, too, can beat the odds. Dr. Collins describes the universal characteristics of such businesses in his Ten Commandments of Resilience. They include:

Thou Shalt Have a Written Disaster Plan...