Executive's Guide to Personal Security, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 2Planning for Emergencies in the Office

VIRTUALLY EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, facility, and installation has an emergency action (or response) plan. In the event of an emergency, these plans, which discuss anticipated emergency situations and appropriate responses to initiate in given situations, are implemented. This process has been proven successful over time, and some in the private sector have adopted this practice and have created their own emergency plans. The majority of businesses, however, have not. This chapter discusses the need for such plans and recommends specific courses of action that should be taken during various emergency situations.

WHY PLAN?

The first and most obvious question to ask is: Why do you need an emergency action plan? The answer is that during a crisis, such as a bombing, bomb threat, fire, release of hazardous materials, armed attack, or natural disaster, stress, fear, and panic can lead to state of confusion. A confused workforce will rely on management to provide the appropriate direction. Managers, however, will be under the same stress as their employees; the state of panic will limit or prevent the ability of management, security officers, or other designated persons from making the right decisions. A well‐organized plan allows those in charge to make the right decisions under pressure during an emergency. The plans must be well thought out, well organized, accessible, and have contingencies carefully preplanned prior to the stress ...