Disaster Survival Planning (Bell)

DISASTER SURVIVAL PLANNING:
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR BUSINESS
by Judy Kay Bell

"WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK? Corporate officers and executives,
decision
makers at all levels, and emergency managers.

- "Does your business or corporation have documented emergency plans?
- Have they been tested with realistic scenarios?
- Are they written for each group who will use these plans at the time of a disaster,
so that valuable time isn't wasted searching through pages of information which doesn't
pertain to them?
- Do your plans spell out what your key executives' roles are, and how they are to
function?
- Are all policy issues addressed?
- Does each department have its own plans, identifying what initial actions they will
take, and how they will reopen their doors for business?
- Do your plans spell out how information is going to flow throughout the entire
organization?
- Does each location have plans which identify the emergency response teams,
supplies, shelter manage and casualty collection points for that site?
- What about your work groups? Do they have plan which contain the critical
information they need to survive on their own for the first 72 hours?
- Do all of your plans interlink appropriately so that everyone knows what their
responsibilities are?
- Have you detailed how your organization will recover after you reopen your doors
for business?

"If you answered "no" to any of the above question this book is for you! It is
designed to help anyone who has been asked to prepare an emergency plan. Are you
having
trouble getting support for your efforts from your executives? We will show you how to involve
your top manage throughout the process, guaranteeing your success.

"Perhaps you are enrolled in one of the emergency preparedness certification
programs which are springing up at university campuses across the country. If so, you have
already been exposed to the Incident Command System which is used widely in the fire
fighting and emergency response communities. But what about the people who perform
other
functions for the city, county, state, or federal governments? We provide you with a process
which will work for them as well.

"Major disasters can happen anywhere. They can be natural or manmade. When
they occur, it is too late to start planning. It doesn't matter whether you work in business,
government office, school, hospital, church military, university, or volunteer organization. The
same planning must take place. We have used businesses as the main focus of this book,
because the terms used to describe their functions are generally known by everyone.

"This book is also written to dispel false assumptions. If you think your
organization is prepared because back-up plans for your computer systems are in place, you
need to read it. Although contingency plans for computer systems must be included, they are
only one small facet of the overall planning effort. In my experience, I have found many
businesses think they are prepared because their computer systems are backed-up, yet they
have put no forethought into activating all of the other elements of their business besides the
computers. Without people to perform their functions, computers will do little good when the
disaster occurs.

"Everyone who is in a leadership position and is responsible or accountable for
emergency preparedness should read and understand this book. Without exception, you will
discover whole areas of planning which you have never thought of addressing before. Why?
Because until now, no one has explored all of the dynamics which come into play at the time
of a major disaster, interlinking everyone's actions from the top officials to the most recently
hired employee."

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND THANKS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION: WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?
CHAPTER 1
What Happened The Day Of The Test
A closer look at the Whittier earthquake
What we discovered, and what we learned
How this test paid off two years later
CHAPTER 2
Why Should We Prepare?
Changes in our environment and technology have recently escalated
Protecting our computers is not enough
Consequences we can expect
What to do to minimize risks
Committing resources
CHAPTER 3
Planning - How It All Fits Together
What are the five distinct levels of planning?
Why each element needs its own documents, training, and tests
Emergency supplies: a typical example
CHAPTER 4
How Do You Start? Gaining Executive Approval
A sample emergency preparedness manager's job description
Ways to get support for your effort
What your proposal should contain, and how to present it
EXECUTIVE PLANNING:
CHAPTER 5
Resolving Policy Issues
Defining administrative, employee preparedness, and business
recovery policies
How to get executive commitment and resolution of issues
CHAPTER 6
Officer Succession
Taking care of the business: Board of Directors responsibilities
Emergency lines of executive succession
Revising Bylaws
CHAPTER 7
Providing Guidelines For Top Managers
What executives need to know
Identifying roles for key managers
Determining responsibilities in advance
CHAPTER 8
Business Restoration and Long-Term Recovery
Streamlining damage assessment
Prioritizing resources
Beginning the recovery process
Restoring operations to normal
CHAPTER 9
Putting It On Paper
Preparing a document for your key executives
Writing the Company Plan
Publishing and tracking executive plans

DEPARTMENT PLANNING:
CHAPTER 10
Getting Help
Forming an interdepartmental team
The first meeting
Managing the department planning process
CHAPTER 11
The First Step: Defining Vital Functions
Identifying and prioritizing functions
Obtaining agreement
Allocating resources
CHAPTER 12
Preparing Department Plans
Initial action plans
Business recovery steps
Employee protection
Family contact points
Redeploying resources
Emergency communications
Diagrams and checklists
Alternate suppliers
Vital records
CHAPTER 13
Making Sure Department Plans Will Work
Checking for completeness
Who should publish department plans
How to test the plans
EMERGENCY CENTER PLANNING:
CHAPTER 14
Chaos And The Emergency Center Role
How to define your EOC needs
Littletown, U.S.A. Publishing Company example
CHAPTER 15
Physical Considerations
Picking the location
Choosing furniture
Stocking equipment and supplies
Providing staff support
CHAPTER 16
Communications Alternatives
Surveying what you have and what you need
Determining how effective your alternatives will be
CHAPTER 17
Assessing Damages and Prioritizing Resources
Steps to perform proper damage assessment
How to determine what to prioritize
CHAPTER 18
Testing Your EOC
The five types of exercises
Nine steps to follow when creating an event
The emergency manager's role in creating change

LOCATION PLANNING:
CHAPTER 19
Taking Care Of Your Employees
Emergency response team responsibilities
Determining what supplies you need
Picking First Aid and casualty collection point locations
Establishing a shelter
Conducting drills and exercises
CHAPTER 20
Preparing Location Plans
Who should prepare them
What information needs to be included

WORK GROUP PLANNING:
CHAPTER 21
Making It All Happen
Taking the Employee Preparedness Test
Documenting location and resource information
Determining communications plans
Tracking information after the disaster
Keeping information current
CHAPTER 22
Where You Go From Here
How to get started
What to do once your plans are written
A final challenge - staying competitive
EXHIBITS:
1. Critical Functions - Executives
2. Key Executives Document Sample Outline
3. Company Plan Sample Outline
4. Critical Functions - First 72 Hours
5. Business Recovery Functions
6. Vital Functions Planning Form
7. Department Plan Sample Outline
8. Location Plan Sample Outline
9. Work Group Plan Sample Outline
AFTERWORD
RESOURCE SECTION
Professional Associations, Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies
Magazines and Periodic Publications
Suppliers of Emergency Products and Services
INDEX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
"The day before the Whittier earthquake, Judy Bell informed her boss that she was taking the

early retirement' offer Pacific Bell had just announced. The day after, Pacific asked her to
stay on for several months to evaluate and recommend changes to their overall emergency
preparedness plan. Since mid-1988, Judy has been working with schools, government, and
private industry to implement the five
planning levels strategy she describes in this book."

1991, 201 pages Order #DR-190 $23.50

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