NATURAL DISASTER

Natural Disaster: Contingency Plan

Natural Disaster: Contingency Plan

Contingent evacuation plans are a multi-faceted tool providing preparation for natural disaster, terrorism, and political disorder overseas, as well as:

Preservation of business continuity and integrity

The ability to attract high caliber personnel in areas vulnerable to natural disaster or the threat of terrorism (Alexander 2002)

 

For U.S. corporations, the increasing number of natural disasters poses one of the gravest threats. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction states that the number of storms, droughts, and floods has increased threefold over the past 30 years, while the number of those affected by disasters has increased fivefold. (Wisner 2004)

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Americans are more aware than ever of the potential aftermath posed by hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Although typically associated with regions such as the Caribbean and Asia, there is also the potential for deadly disasters to strike U.S. locations such as a hurricane in New York, tsunami off the California coast, or earthquake in the Midwest.

An increasing number of U.S. corporations with international office sites are also coping with the potential for disaster abroad. As of September 2007, the State Department issued travel warnings for 28 nations and has reported a sharp increase in “significant” terrorist attacks since 2003.(Bankoff 2003)

 

So how do corporations reconcile these risks? Develop a contingency plan to address realistic threat scenarios. Forming a contingency plan can be a challenging task, requiring a breadth of knowledge and experience. To assist in planning, consider these important steps:

Complete preliminary, in-house assessment

Form strategic partnerships

Maximize public resources

Utilize communication and practice (Alexander 2002)

 

1 Complete Preliminary Risk Assessment 

Planning should begin with a thorough assessment that considers all potential short and long term risks, as well as questions such as:

What are the most probable risks to our business?

Does the region have ...