Disaster and Emergency Planning in the 21st Century

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Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

Not an easy topic but a very valid one and nicely summarized. Thanks, Greg!

[Toni Howard]

Greg, you have given me so much to think about here, I feel that I will be contemplating your words for a while. With that said, two main thoughts do float to the top right now.

The first is gratitude for this in-depth "How to" in creating an emergency plan. I have been on 5 separate disaster committees for resorts in Hawai'i and your words ring true to all that I have experienced in creating, preparing and implementing an emergency plan. Understanding that it does take alot of effort, patience and time to create, it is all well spent because the moment you need to use an emergency plan, you will not have the time to make one.

“Accepting something to be true without proof is dangerous” – It was these words that really hit my heart for learning and spurred my second thought. How more true can it be, that as students, we all must apply your Plan B thought process of looking for our assumptions and then questioning them. The higher level of Plan B (which I love), is asking us to then prepare for when these assumptions prove to be wrong and make the necessary changes now.

Plan B = Think, Question, Prepare and Act! Great words to follow in business, family and life. Mahalo Greg for this gift.

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

Steve: it is a difficult topic and we each need to step up and provide the leadership to face the reality of the 21st Century, preparation is key and courage to tackle an unpopular topic.

Toni: congratulations on being a leader and taking on such a important task.

Nothing replaces preparation for Plan B and clear thinking in a crisis - with a Contingency or Disaster Plan the odds that you will be able to think clearly increase exponentially.

My dream, hope, and prayer is that each of us would step up and lead our own organizations and families to prepare for Plan B.

Without a plan or preparation overwelm and panic rule. As you summarized Toni "Plan B = Think, Question, Prepare and Act!"

Remember, a disaster and contingency plan could save a life, prevent injuries, provide comfort and assurance during a times of great stress.

Sounds to me like the true spirit of Aloha...

[tim]

Wow Greg...this is intense. I think that may be the main reason that people (myself included) don't spend the time to prepare for things like this. We either think:

a. This will never happen to me.
b. I'll just roll with whatever comes my way.

Both of these show a lack of wisdom and I am more conscious of my own inadequacies in this area as I read through your post.

Thanks for changing your topic and offering this to us.

tim

[Rosa Say]

Greg, for me your post speaks to taking full stock of the responsibilities we have. Both wisdom and foresight are needed to address them when there's no indication a possible storm may be brewing, and when they just aren't the cool and sexy thing.

Learning "the hard way" is never the best way, nor the most pleasant, however you've illustrated for us how it can count for something, yielding better results in our future.

This was a very giving contribution to our forum; thank you.
Rosa

[Debra Estep]

Thanks Greg !

A timely message indeed as September
is National Preparedness Month.

I was just reading an interesting
article last night in eWeek.
"What Have We Learned?"
Katrina taught many disaster
recovery lessons. Here's how
companies have put them into practice.
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2008568,00.asp

This is my husband's magazine
as he has to worry about computer
systems.

But on the homefront, even though
we were not affected
by the blackout in August of 2003,
I had put together a family
disaster kit.
I have since let that go.
Thanks to your prompt Greg, I am
going to restock that and keep it up
to date.

Check out these sites for help
in getting prepared.

Ready
(prepare - plan - stay informed)
Ready America
Ready Business
Ready Kids
www.ready.gov

Department of Homeland Security
www.dhs.gov

The American Red Cross
www.redcross.org

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

Rosa: Tower construction will never be quite the same with the lessons learned from the World Trade Center. My dream is that as many are spurred into action it will have a ripple effect and impact the lives of those we love amd those we do not yet know.

Deb: thanks for posting the links. Each home and small business should have an family disaster and emergency kit.

I remember the ice storms that hit Montreal and how people without cash could not buy a thing because without electricity the debit machines and credit cards could not work. A friend of a friend was able to borrow some cash from a neighbor.

Remember, to include cash in your kit or in a small locked safe that is accessible.