When small business owners take time off, they may temporarily turn over the management of their operations to trusted staff members.

Business owners who have a business continuity plan in place are able to enjoy their break with less worry about the impact a disaster could have on their business. A business continuity plan provides a set of actionable guidelines that steer a business through the recovery process and get operations back to normal after a disaster. Taking the steps outlined in this document can help provide the employer peace of mind that the employees have resources on hand to tackle unforeseen situations while he or she is away.

These situations can range from weather-related incidents such as a flood or tornado, to an equipment issue like a boiler failing or a fire. Though there is no way to predict exactly what will happen, owners can prepare themselves and their employees to best navigate these issues should they arise.

Despite the importance of proper planning, a recent survey conducted by Travelers Select Accounts, the small business unit of one of the nation’s largest property and casualty insurers, found that almost half (44 percent) of small businesses are operating without any type of business continuity plan. The study, which was conducted at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit, also found that 56 percent of owners spent less than 10 percent of their time identifying and preventing operational risks.

A continuity plan can provide the necessary road map to handle a crisis, but these plans are not effective if owners don’t share the details with their employees. Once a plan is developed, owners should walk their employees through different scenarios that could cause the business to shut down and explain how to deal with the circumstances. The plan should include everything from phone numbers of service providers to locations of backup data.

Travelers’ study also found that only 10 percent of owners tap into their independent insurance agents for advice and guidance on developing a business continuity plan. The most tapped resource for such advice is the business owner’s attorney, with 28 percent of respondents relying most on their legal counsel for risk management advice. Business owners would do well to reach out to their insurance agents, as they generally have access to numerous risk management resources and have experience in risk mitigation.

In the event that a catastrophe occurs while an owner is away, he or she can take comfort in knowing that employees are operating with a written set of guidelines to help them minimize risks.

In these cases, a business continuity plan can mean the difference between chaos and employees confidently taking the right steps to keep a business stable.

Doug Gregory is the Upper Midwest regional vice president for the small business division of Travelers Insurance.