The Lafayette, Louisiana movie theater shooting was methodically planned. The shooter, John Russell Houser, is reported to have visited other theaters prior to the attack and had been to the Grand 16 movie theater in Lafayette at least once prior. So, why did he choose this Lafayette theater over the others that he visited? Did…
It’s not news: media headlines tell shocking stories of organizational crises every. single. day. Moreover, while some crises happen suddenly, they are much more likely to smolder, perhaps for years before they erupt. A crisis may not be shock and awe, but can still derail your organization. A crisis threatens or damages sales, profits, or…
In the May 4th New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell wrote an article called, “The Engineer’s Lament: Two ways of thinking about automotive safety.” To the engineer, Gladwell writes, a car’s safety lies on a continuum of extremes ranging from totally unsafe to completely safe. In contrast, the public’s view, and, usually, the view of non-technically trained public…
Kidnap, Ransom, and Extortion Scenario Planning The CEO lands in Rome for an executive leadership conference and never arrives at his hotel. Calls to his mobile phone go straight into voice mail. His scheduled driver and security detail in Rome have also gone missing. The clock is ticking….. What do you do? Crisis preparedness planning is…
It’s a routine day in your busy city office. Nothing unusual until something utterly catastrophic and unexpected ruins your day, maybe your life. Terrorist attack, industrial accident, natural disaster, lone shooter, unprovoked serious assault, the possibilities are endless. Well, we all know how we would respond to the physical threat because we have plans…
Q: What are the most rewarding elements of working within the education risk management space? A: Threat assessment is considered to be the current best practice for handling threatening situations and preventing targeted violence at colleges and universities, in K-12 schools, in workplaces, and in the military. When we conduct a threat assessment, we gather…
It’s a harsh and inevitable reality: A crisis lurks just around the corner for all organizations. A well-tested, up-to-date crisis plan is therefore indispensable for ensuring business continuity and brand protection when reality strikes. But some plans are more effective than others, and the more effective ones include these five essential elements: 1. A…
Can a crisis plan that’s regularly tested through crisis simulation exercises help to prevent disasters such as the cataclysmic train derailment that occurred in the Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic last July? The answer is — yes and no. Yes, if vulnerabilities are identified and addressed, but no, if the preventive measures to mitigate those…
If you’re in the field of preparedness, the notion of a rogue employee is not new. However, the tragic outcomes of a highly skilled and disgruntled former police officer taking down his counterparts has left many shaken in LA and across the U.S. Christopher Dorner, age 33, was accused of going on a killing…