In Katrina's Wake, It's National Preparedness Month; Hurricane A Brutal Reminder; Businesses urged to plan ahead for disasters; a new AT&T poll finds many don't.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: DONNA HOWELL

It's the worst time. Yet apropos for "safety first."

Disaster officials will kick off National Preparedness Month on Thursday, even as New Orleans and other parts of the South cope with unprecedented flooding and damage.

September is the month when the American Red Cross and other relief agencies spread the message that people and businesses need to plan for emergencies.

How well or poorly firms did will be illustrated in coming weeks and months as the region recovers from Hurricane Katrina.

"Business owners large and small had hopefully evacuated from the area, so they don't know yet how their businesses have fared," said Red Cross spokeswoman Stacey Grissom. "It will be awhile before we'll be able to clarify the scope of this disaster."

All firms should have a disaster plan to help them cope with a crisis, she says. Plans should detail everything from how to reach key employees to how to ensure crucial computer data are backed up and accessible.