Having perspective is always a good thing. In this interview, Joe McEnness, Executive Director – Office of Risk Management of the Catholic Church in Boston, discusses crisis preparedness. Having a plan is one thing, knowing how to implement that plan during a crisis is a totally different matter. Practicing the plan and ensuring your team…
The Crisis Management Team’s (CMT) role during a physical event may vary depending on the scale and complexity of the emergency. Knowing what to do during such events is essential. In the early stages of a physical event, the CMT needs to be organized. Making timely and accurate decisions due to the team being well…
Throughout 2016, we have created and delivered multiple crisis simulation exercises. Each scenario was custom created to each organization based on their exercise objectives. Scenarios must be customized to ensure the team being tested is engaged. Without engagement, the exercise will not be as successful as it could be. Scenarios should also include each exercise…
Communities are not just made up of homes and apartments. Many communities have businesses that provide jobs and other services to those communities. Major cities have businesses that are heavily integrated into their communities and so do some smaller cities and even towns. It’s imperative that businesses understand their communities and it is equally important…
Being able to communicate during a crisis is essential for any organization. Understanding what to say and how to say it should be part of the crisis preparedness planning process. All stakeholders need to be addressed and your spokespersons should know what to say when the media request an interview. Have you ever considered being…
When was the last time you looked at your security from a hostile’s perspective? Have you ever? The majority of hostiles go through an online reconnaissance of their targets before they attack. In fact, many will review various targets online first to see what they can obtain in terms of security at those locations. If…
Does your organization have a workplace violence policy? Are there procedures to follow? Has your organization conducted an active shooter or other violent intruder drills or exercises? Are your staff and other key stakeholders prepared for such an attack? How would your staff respond and how would you manage the event? Answers to the above…
Violent situations can happen at a moment’s notice and are typically planned events. Dallas police just experienced an active shooter situation that took five police officers lives during a peaceful demonstration. How do you prepare yourself and your organization for violent attacks? Do you have a process for evaluating your organization’s ability to respond to…