When we think of emergency preparedness, our minds tend to think of fire alarms and evacuation drills, but what about other emergencies? Do you remember when the Eastern Seaboard lost power in 2003? Were you prepared then? Are you prepared now?
Emergency preparedness is simply about preparing for emergencies that may interrupt your organization’s daily operations. Knowing and understanding the types of emergencies your business should be prepared for is important.
Because we have clients across Canada, there will be different emergencies to plan for depending on the province your business is located in, and the specific risks associated with each location. For example, businesses near the ocean must be prepared for hurricanes, whereas a business in the prairie provinces would not.
It is imperative to consider all possible risks to your business. Think about what has happened historically, and what is reasonable to anticipate. Consider your location, the businesses and the infrastructure around you, and don’t forget to consider what may happen in the future. For example, if your business is located near a business that stores or manufactures toxic chemicals, are you prepared for a potential chemical leak or explosion? If you are located near a railway, are you prepared for a derailment? It is important to consider both natural and human-influenced factors to be best prepared.
Have you thought about what your organization needs to function in an emergency situation? What are the critical operations, who are the staff in charge, and what are they expected to do? What will you do if your organization can only operate on a fractional basis? How will you work to resume full capacity?
Consider how your organization will communicate with internal and external parties. How will staff be
notified whether to come in to work or to stay home? Do you have up-to-date contact information for your
staff? How will you communicate with your clients? Will you use social media, email blasts, etc.? What
makes the most sense given the situation?
Emergency preparedness shouldn’t be about fear and panic, the more prepared you are to handle these
items, the more success you will have in the event of an emergency.