Disaster Recover Planning
How do I create a plan for disaster recovery?
The planning process can be vastly different due to the fact that every company is in need of a distinctive plan. A basic understanding of the fundamentals, however, is provided in the following brief outline, which has been created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is included in their Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry. Detailed information and the guide are made available at FEMA’s Web site – www.fema.gov.
Step One - Launch a Planning Team
- Assign the chief executive or facility manager as leader
- Gather input from all functional areas
- Encourage any and all ideas
- Distribute a mission statement for the plan
- Determine a schedule and budget
Step Two / a - Investigate Capabilities and Hazards
- Evaluate internal plans and policies (evacuation plan, fire protection plan, hazardous materials, etc.)
- Assemble a meeting with outside groups (government agencies, community-based organizations, emergency management offices, utilities, and others)
- Determine codes and regulations (safety, environmental, fire, seismic, etc)
- Distinguish critical operations, products and services
- Identify internal capabilities and resources (personnel, facilities, equipment, organizational and backup systems)
- Pinpoint External resources (contractors, local and state police, emergency medical services, etc. - formal agreements may be required)
- Assess insurance
Step Two / b - Perform a vulnerability analysis
- Inside facility
- Inside community
- Historical (earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes)
- Geographic (propinquity to flood plains, airports)
- Technological (system failure or process)
- Human mistakes (most common cause for workplace emergencies)
Step Three - Begin the Plan
- Specify emergency response procedures
Step Four - Execute The Plan
- Incorporate into company operations
- Carry out training
- Review and change the plan
Post-disaster considerations
- Direction and control (the emergency management group which is under the emergency director which directs all areas)
- Life safety – number one priority
- Protection of Property - important to re-establish operations
- Community outreach (your involvement with the community will effect your ability to protect employees and property and return to your previous status)
- Recovery and restoration (to keep employees working and the organization working)
- Administrations and logistics (managing to keep records precise and accurate)
Hopefully your business or organization will never fall victim to a disaster, however it is likely that the problem could arise in your future. For this reason, your reaction and preparation will determine your recovery.
Upon reading our provided information, it is in our hopes that you are now motivated to better prepare your own business, as it is of the utmost importance in your career to be prepared for a disaster.
It is wise for you to take all areas into consideration, especially if the area is appropriately suited to your organization. Your business more than likely will be dependent on technology as it is a major factor and should be included in your plan development and recovery effort. You should create a business continuity plan (BCP) of your overall strategy with the main focus being on how you will deal with technology issues. Insurance adjusters are making available the following supplement on BCP to allow you incorporate this important area into your organization's disaster recovery plan.