You do have an emergency plan, right?

You know the old saying that hindsight is 20/20. Welcome, Hindsight, if you’re a business without an emergency plan.

That’s the message from Sonoma State University economist Robert Eyler.

I heard an interview that Eyler had done with a Sonoma radio station earlier this month, and among his top points — besides there’s going to be a recession — is that at the last blip, businesses should have jumped on emergency planning.

There will always be an emergency of varying depths, and to have a plan is beyond wise.

Advice that Eyler gives includes business continuity plans should be under development if they’re not in place now. Businesses need to help their employees and keep the operation a float.

We saw how important that was after the Camp Fire.

Eyler, who has provided economic forecasts in Butte County before, reminds us that all of this will pass, but a plan lessens the pain. Good message.

He also says that how the next few months play out — and what businesses do — will set the tone for them for the next couple of years.

A point Eyler made specifically for workers is how versatile and flexible they are will determine their value to the boss.

If you can do your job from anywhere, that heightens your value, especially during an emergency.

Obviously using a laser welder on vehicle equipment requires some specialized surroundings. Or, if you’re stuck with kids and can’t do your work at home, that’s another situation.

The more portable your skills are, the more likely you are to survive a downturn.

In a blink of an eye

There were signs of life at AMF Orchard Lanes Bowling Center in Chico, at least for a little while.

After a number of inquires about what was going on, I chatted with spokeswoman Jillian Laufer, who assured me after months of being closed, there was a reopening in sight.

It really did open, but now it’s closed. Thank you, coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, Orchard Lanes was one of many bowling centers that has been closed by owner Bowlero. Like other businesses, there’s a target date to reopen — April 1. Fingers crossed.

On the center’s voice mail message, there was mention of birthday parties and the website included information about sports bar, arcade and pro shop. It had gone through a vast remodeling.

Back in November, Laufer from Bowlero Corp, which owns the center, expected the center to be open by the end of 2019.

Oroville chamber news

Another victim of the coronavirus is the Oroville Chamber’s annual dinner, slated for April 2.

Amber Marron of the chamber told me Thursday that the dinner is being postponed.

I hope these are postponements and not cancellations.

For businesses, there will always be an emergency of varying depths, and to have a plan is beyond wise.