Category Archives: Disaster Planning

ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

All Hazards Emergency Plan and Continuity of Operations, All hazards plan, Continuity of Operations, Disaster Planning, How To Prepare, ,

ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

ALL HAZARDS PLANNING

Joanne Hull |October 27, 2014

It’s highly recommended that we go for our annual checkup once a year.   No one likes it.  It certainly isn’t the high-point of anyone’s day.  But, we do it!

There are basic tests we all have to take and others specific to gender, weight, age, and past medical history.   You know the drill.  We all hate checkups but once it’s over we sure feel relieved and somewhat reassured that we have done something to control our future.

The same is true for your emergency planning.  ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL.

Recently, I attended a community tabletop exercise.  Captains of local Industry were seated at all of the respective tables ready for the latest tabletop scenario to begin.  What I found mind boggling was the fact that most in attendance had no idea how to adjust the only planned scenario they had on file to any other new or proposed catastrophic event.   Their plans appeared to be cookie cutter, made from a template and any deviation created stress and confusion.

Now, readers….. I’m sure that you get the point.  At the very least, your emergency management and contingency plan needs an annual checkup as well.    Your life may depend on it!

Don’t be fooled.  Don’t hire someone to create your plan and not be an active participant in the process.  Don’t accept a template or a cookie cutter plan and, by all means hire someone with experience.   It’s easy to” talk the talk” however, make sure who you hire has” walked the walk”, or,  be prepared for that look of confusion when presented with an event other than what was written for you in that expensive three ring binder you paid a good buck for and now call your plan.

Just like your visit to the doctor, you need a specific plan for your specific circumstances,  in your specific job or, specific region of the country.  Find the weak links even if the weak link is your plan itself or the firm you hired and, step away from the obvious by connecting all of the dots and recognizing anomalies to meet your specific challenges.

Measure your plan against effectiveness re-imagined for the 21st century.  Then, an only then, you’ll have the game changer.

 

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH ????

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, How To Prepare, ,

SEPTEMBER—NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH ????

(Shouldn’t every month be National Preparedness Month?)

Joanne Hull|September 2014

In this day and age, do we really need a designated month to prepare?   Shouldn’t we be preparing every day ?

I remember working in a state that had several hurricanes.  They struck the state one after the other, each one more violent than the next.  One night thoroughly exhausted as usual, I arrived “home” to my hotel in time for the 11PM news.  I turned on the television trying to unwind and heard the best 60 seconds ever.  A frustrated elected official was being interviewed and he said words to the effect……  Look, we live in a state that gets hurricanes.  Is it too much to ask to have a few days of bottled water and non-perishable items until help can get to you?

Words to live by since September also happens to be the month when more hurricanes have occurred that any other month.

BE PREPARED.  HAVE A PLAN.  What would happen if you become the only person your family has to count on until help arrives?

DISASTERS NEVER STRIKE IN ISOLATION

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, ,

Disasters Never Strike In Isolation

Joanne Hull | May 6, 2014

It’s not enough to know your job and, certainly in the disaster business no one has the luxury of working in isolation.  Disasters never strike in isolation.  Quite the contrary, they strike with an unprecedented magnitude that requires disciplined leadership, management and extensive collaboration across all sectors of government agencies, communities, business and industry.

In order to prepare, respond, or mitigate any of these natural or man-made challenges, multidisciplinary collaboration must be incorporated on each event.  Flawless integration of all sectors allows each Emergency Manager and Disaster Employee to expedite the recovery process without disruption.  When the disaster universe becomes aligned, and all stakeholders’ work together sharing and collaborating, this approach takes positive results to an entirely new level.   Understanding and managing different degrees of expectations and being receptive to different perspectives foster successful outcomes.

Manage the plan,

                     Manage the outcome,

Recognize divergent approaches.

 

CHARACTER IS EVERYTHING !

Additional Topics, Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, Motivation, Inspiration,

Character is Everything !

Joanne Hull | April 9, 2014

Isn’t it interesting just how much you can tell about a person working on a disaster in a matter of seconds ?  If someone is not moved by the emotional events surrounding their arrival and they can break it down to the lowest financial denominator to leverage value to their own wallet and length of their own personal timeline, that tells you everything you need to know about their character.  What more is there to say?

Maybe this……….”You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”    Coach John Wooden-UCLA, Aka- Wizard of Westwood.

 

THIS STORY HAS A MORAL

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, How To Prepare,

THIS STORY HAS A MORAL

TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY—-HOW TO BE PREPARED ON VACATION (subtitle- A Little Piece Of The Job Has Rubbed off On Me).

Joanne Hull | March 24, 2014

I admit, I’m not the easiest person to vacation with! 

Let’s face it, when you spend the majority of your life traveling and your day job is disasters, it’s difficult not to notice things that most of your happy vacationer friends won’t be looking for.   I don’t go on vacation with the mission critical presumption- to have fun- cannot fail.

Touch Down- Tropical Island Paradise ??

The minute the plane touches down and the rest of party heads to the hotel to throw on a bathing suit, I’m back in the car off to get supplies.  For Instance; plenty of water, non-perishable food, flashlights. I make sure the car is always filled with gas, I will only stay in a hotel with a backup generator,  never book a room on the ground floor no matter how close to the  water that private patio is and, I always carry a weather radio.

Why you ask?? 

I’ve been in plenty of tropical storms and hurricanes on the job.   Try to find water or pump gas without electricity, try to find food or, see how you feel when your room heats up to over 100 degrees without a backup generator.  See how you feel when your shoes and suitcases are floating on the floor when water comes through the patio door or, how you feel when the lights finally go out and you can’t see your hand in front of your face.

My Friends think it’s funny (for now).

Two days later, they weren’t laughing when a storm hit our beautiful “tropical island paradise”.    Lights out all over the island, wind howling and, one by one they came climbing up the stair and knocking on my door.  It’s amazing what happens and how popular you become when you are the only one in the group with a dry room, sustenance, libations and light.  A veritable port in a storm…….pun intended !!!

Moral :

Even a tropical paradise has a dark side.  Go prepared!

ALL HAZARDS PLAN…..FOR ME !

Disaster Planning, Emergency Management, ,

ALL HAZARDS PLAN……FOR ME!

Joanne Hull | March 12, 2014

I’ve written my share of disaster, contingency, recovery, and continuity of operations plans in my career.  I’ve prepared the plan, exercised the plan, and played it out in real- time as Chief of Staff or as Chief of Operations on some very large disasters and emergencies throughout the country.  I certainly know the intensity for quick recovery from catastrophic events.

In light of the changing world we live in and the wrath of “Mother Nature” or violent man-made events, normal operations for me is still quite different than most of my friends who are not in my profession.

I don’t go into any situation believing that an outside source will address any of my needs in the event of an emergency.   I expect much less from outside assistance and much more of myself.