Peer Feedback Discussion
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Course:
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Community: Business Continuity
Performing a Business Continuity Planning will determine the levels of damage caused by the disasters on the stock, staff, information technology system failure, and the possibility of a recovery process. The continuity plan will be used to determine the potential of future disasters, how to minimize the risks, how to react to the damages caused, and the impacts on the business operations. The continuity plan assists small businesses to prepare for any disruptive outcomes or events in the future, comprising of natural disasters, disruption on the IT and computer systems, plus power outage, or fires. The plan ensures that these businesses can continue making money, or getting income, during the disaster, and afterward. The entity provides support for business continuity in the region by focusing on information technology that helps in the system recovery. The entity provides critical mainframes that contain crucial data at a back-up location within the first week of a disastrous occurrence. Temporary call centers can be set up for the agents in the closest training facility, plus other computer systems being restored to cater for the business needs, and provision of services to the consumers.
Businesses have to participate in community emergency preparedness because it will help determine the ideal plan needed on each business entity, and the most vital systems in the business units. The local governments cannot address all the needs of the affected people in the aftermath of a disaster; hence, it will look towards the private sector to assist and provide basic needs to everyone affected. The decisions made have a direct impact on local businesses. The entity fosters community, business, and emergency management collaboration by identifying who can participate in the recovery plans, reviews the effective mitigation plans, and ensures all regular supplies are restored after a disaster striking. It shares data that prepare stakeholders and builds a system-level understanding of effective decision making.
Recommendations: Local businesses and entities need to have a business continuity plan that is key in assisting them in preparing for disasters and the best ways of recovery, and continuity of their businesses.
Other Community
The preparedness programs and activities in associated local government and emergency management operations are part of the Emergency Management and Disaster Planning. The Community Emergency Response Team trains volunteers about disaster preparedness and response skills of rescue, team training, and medical operation. An in-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (2004) is a designed guideline to help residents learn about effective ways to prepare themselves against natural catastrophes, and other types of hazards. The information is readily available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency website and is easily understood, accessible to all, following the statutes under Section 504 of the Preparedness Act of 1973. All persons with special needs are considered, including braille data, translation into multiple foreign languages, and availability of resources to physically-disabled persons, and Non-English speakers.
Volunteers engage in community preparedness programs through training and having critical volunteer meetings that empower their skills and knowledge in emergency preparedness. They form follow-up-volunteer meetings to learn new skills like life-saving, CPR, First-Aid, Evacuation, and provision of medical services during a catastrophe. Volunteers come from local schools that train students on the basics of volunteerism, skilled-based individuals like firefighters, or staff from local private organizations and corporates, and virtual volunteering through online coordination programs in completion of tasks, locating lost people and items in the disaster area by using aerial gadgets like drones.
Managers are trained about the background knowledge and experience in emergency management, equipped with technical tools, and information on possible problems to encounter, plus the basics people will require during and after a disaster. The recruitment process involves all community members being sensitized on the need to have preparedness programs, the use of local media stations, the local newspapers, the use of newsletters, and advertisements to encourage each person to take part in the programs. The local places of worship and all religious organizations are included and encouraged to assist in the provision of services during emergencies and help in the recovery process.
Recommendations: It is vital to involve the community in emergency preparedness programs because each person has skills and knowledge to help the affected victims and ensure that the community moves forward after a disaster strikes. Equipping everyone makes a recovery and continuity process effective, easy, and successful.
Threats
The Concept of Operation Plan (CONPLAN) guides the Federal Bureau of Investigations to react, respond, plan, and implement directive measures during a terrorist attack incident. The CONPLAN is created to provide guidelines to all federal agencies on how to respond to potential terrorist attacks, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is mandated to implement and coordinate all response activities in state and local authorities. An active shooter plan is included in emergency preparedness because it helps first responders to supplement the resources as required and secure the local area of the incident. The Active Shooter Plan helps people respond to an active shooting situation confidently and effectively, neutralizing the shooting, assisting in empowering survival skills, or making sound decisions if an attack happens.
The response procedure for an active shooter of a terrorist incident is first knowing the type of incident the shooting is, whether it is a revenge issue, a robbery incident, worker-to-worker situation, intimate-partner violence, and political-driven, prisoner-escape, or ideological violence incidence. It is vital to determine the shooter’s behavioral indicators, the types of weapons used, the environment of the incident, and workplace evaluation. An announcement is made that an active shooter is in a particular location, and the escape route is determined quickly in mind. Authorities are informed of the issue, and everyone is encouraged to hide away from the shooter. If anyone has skills to counter the shooter, they are encouraged to fight back to neutralize the incident.
The entity has not experienced past incidents of an active shooter or terrorist attack. However, criticism could arise when employees are not trained in practical ways to respond to a shooting or terror incident in case they happen. Resources are directed elsewhere in the entity, making the response teams vulnerable to such incidences. The communication plan includes sharing data with all departments to prepare adequately, train its staff on emergency response strategies, and involve all people in the firm to have adequate reporting and passing of information without reprisals. An effective communication plan informs all people in an organization about an active shooter and the ways to avoid or counter them if possible.
Recommendation: It is essential to have the necessary skills to counter an active shooter, use intervention from all members of staff, and design best escape routes to prevent multiple injuries and casualties. All entities should have first aid kits in strategic places to help the injured, communicate effectively, design active shooting plans, and measures to counter terrorism in the future.