Emergency Preparedness: Manage the Risk Before it Manages Your Business

“A risk-intelligent company is a resilient company, a company ready to move on, resilient to potential disasters in the marketplace.”
-Tom Ridge

Former Pennsylvania Governor and First Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge kicked off his keynote speech at last month’s Emergency Preparedness program by crediting his former Lt. Governor Mark Schweiker, now the Chamber’s President & CEO, with the foresight to envision Pennsylvania as one of the preeminent emergency systems in the country.

Effective emergency response depends on advance planning, training and testing for all types of situations. It should incorporate timing issues for advance warnings, as in the case of Y2K; shorter windows for natural disasters; or no warning whatsoever, as in the case of hostile situations, accidents or chemical spills.

Addressing the 400-plus business community audience, Gov. Ridge emphasized that being prepared for a failure or disruption is just good business sense. He warned against getting into a risk-avoidance mode since it’s impossible to eliminate all risks, stressing that businesses need to be self-reliant—at least in the short-run—and continue to operate, turn a profit and keep people employed. 

He recommended prioritizing the finite list of possible risk situations a company is vulnerable to and to think about risk in terms of business continuity: What is the probability (i.e., has it occurred before); what are the system’s vulnerabilities; what are the consequences if a threat is realized (to the enterprise, region and country); how will you continue to operate competitively.

Gov. Ridge emphasized that a “good company is prepared if the employees are prepared,” a theme repeated by several of the 12 industry experts on-hand to offer advice throughout the half-day program. Once employees know that their home situation is secure, they can focus on the work.  Click here for The Inquirer coverage of the event.

A panel discussion described how government is working with the intelligence community on emergency preparedness. Philadelphia’s emergency management “czar” MaryAnn Marrocolo shared the City’s key elements in designing an effective emergency preparedness plan, including working with surrounding counties and the private sector on information sharing before and during an incident. At the top of the priority list: evacuation of high-rise buildings, getting commuters out of the city, and planning for reverse reentry to get commuters home if they didn’t evacuate there.

Dr. Harvey Rubin, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis & Response, University of Pennsylvania, and co-chair of the Philadelphia’s Emergency Preparedness Review Committee which produced a report with James Lee Witt Associates.

Click here for the report

Dr. Rubin said his team’s focus was on tracking the most vulnerable people, ensuring government continuity, and engaging public involvement.

Moderator Tom Foley, CEO, Southeastern Pennsylvania American Red Cross, emphasized personal preparedness and Red Cross resources including its Web site and training opportunities for businesses.

Following the panel discussion were two breakout sessions, including a lesson on continuity planning:

• Plan to stay in business—including securing an alternate business location and crises control center
• Be informed—and know your risks
• Create an emergency planning team
• Coordinate with others—including neighborhood firms and building management; reach to local authorities such as police and fire departments for advice and training
• Inventory & IT—prioritize the list and consider suppliers and contractors
• Obligation to self and employees—payroll top concern
• Evacuation plan—shelter in place
• Employee communications continuity—real-time information sharing
• Insurance—the right coverage, and knowing who to reach out to immediately

Industry experts throughout the panel and breakout activities drilled down on the importance of making a plan for work and home (for children and adults you are responsible for), staying informed, and getting involved.

For a complete list of panelists and speakers, click here.

For additional resources and Web sites, click here.