Improving Security and Disaster Response Potential Part Three

Disaster Response

 

• Be sure to discuss terrorism coverage with your agency representative.

 

• Keep copies of insurance policies and other critical documents in a safe and accessible location (e.g. a fire-proof safe).

 

• Develop a Disaster Recovery Plan. If you already have one make sure that it is up-to-date.

 

• Review your policy for off-site back-up of EDP records. Ideally these records should be backed-up and transmitted or sent off-site on a daily basis.

 

• Have telephone call lists available (include cell phone and pager numbers) for all key personnel so required staff members can be contacted during non-working hours from any location. Review procedures for notifying employees that your facility is closed. Remind employees that they should never attempt to enter areas that are closed by police or other emergency responders.

 

• Consider establishing an alternate method for your phone service if the switchboard becomes unusable (e.g. switching incoming number to a cell phone or remote number).

 

• Check available emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, emergency generators/fuel, patching materials such as plastic sheeting, wood 2×4s, duct tape, spare fire extinguishers, first aid kits, etc. If you think that some personnel would stay at the facility during/following an emergency, consider stockpiling food and water for their use.

 

• Be sure your emergency response philosophy reflects that human life is always more valuable than property.