Pandemic Planning Tips For Businesses

The H1N1 virus – a.k.a. The swine flu – seemingly lost some significance over the weekend. After a week of hysteria, officials are now saying that the impending pandemic is not as bad as they first believed. That is welcome news and we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

However, the scare isn't quite over. The flu of 1918 started in the Spring of that year, but there was a lull over the summer before reaching pandemic proportions during the flu season the following winter. Millions eventually died.

Business can take away some lessons from the H1N1 incident to include in their continuity plans:

Include pandemics as part of your disaster planning

The lesson here isn't that officials got it wrong. Instead, it is a wake-up call. Planning and preparations for a pandemic or other disaster are an absolute must. It is not a question of if, but when.

Plan for the impact on your business

Consider which staff members are critical to operations during an outbreak. Plan for scenarios in which demand for your products or services might increase or decrease dramatically. How will business travel be affected?

Plan for the impact on employees and customers

Employees and customers may fall ill or have contagious family members. How will this affect your business? Policies should be established to address potential issues -- including employee contact, shared workspace, meetings, etc. – with the intention of reducing the likelihood of spreading a virus.

Communicate and educate employees

As the leader of a business, it will behoove you to inform staff on a pandemic. Find credible and reliable sources of information to keep abreast of the developments so you can help employees understand the realities. Otherwise, the rumor mill will do it for you with unpredictable consequences.

Disseminate the preparedness and response plan

A disaster plan is no good unless people know about it. The plan should be shared so they know what is can be expected from the organization during an event and also what is expected of them.

With a little planning, a pandemic's impact on your business can be reduced. It is not hard to do, but it does require a little forethought.

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Italian Scientist Muzzled Over Earthquake Warnings

Authorities dismissed the calls of seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani who warned that a series of small tremors were signs of a larger quake to come. In March, the man was reported to authorities and accused of spreading panic.

Giuliani based his findings on a growing amount of radon gas around the seismic activity. He concluded that the smaller activity was a sign of a larger quake.

The mayor of L'Aquila, about 60 miles east of Rome, Italy, forced Giuliani to remove his findings from the Internet. Meanwhile, Italy's Civil Protection agency convened a group of scientists to refute in an effort to calm the public.

Unfortunately, Giuliani was right. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy. More than 60 people are reported dead. Authorities believe as many as 50,000 people may now be homeless.

Source: Dozens dead, many hurt as big earthquake hits Italy

Source: Italy muzzled scientist who foresaw quake

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The "Other" Business Disruptions

What kinds of causes come to mind when you think of events that might interrupt a business? Most people probably think of destructive natural events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, or man-caused incidents like data theft and cyber attacks.

However, there are many more commonplace events that could do a business irreparable harm that merit consideration in any continuity plan.

Public relations crisis – Any business owner knows that reputation is a valuable intangible that must be protected at all costs. Yet, it only takes one event to lose or tarnish it. Let's say you experience data theft. The next thing you know, a local news organization has victims lined up in front your store telling their horrific stories. How would you handle a public relations meltdown?

Equipment failures – What would happen if your telephone or email system went down for a couple days? Would you be able to assist customers who need help during that period? Would you be able to reach your own vendors and suppliers to keep things moving along?

Theft or vandalism – Often times, theft or vandalism can damage your critical functionality. What effects might either have on your business?

Human error – Errors caused by people are probably the most common events that could lead to disaster. Typically, they are related to lack of training, fatigue, or carelessness. Consider what areas of your critical functions might be vulnerable to error.

Loss of key personnel – Ask yourself, what would happen if one of your key employees were to be hit by a bus tomorrow?

Environmental hazards – A hazardous spill could occur in your area that has nothing to do with your company. Nonetheless, authorities will force you to evacuate if you're in the danger zone. Do you have the means to operate off-site if you're unexpectedly denied access to your own company?

While disasters can not be predicted, a little planning and preparation for them can go a long way towards mitigating their effects on your business. It may be useful to think about major disasters in your planning, but it is also worthwhile to consider risks posed by smaller, more commonplace events that can prove just as devastating.

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NOAA: Upper Midwest Faces Flooding

The National Weather Service issued the Spring Outlook for 2009 and is expecting significant flooding in the upper Midwest. Flooding is expected to begin this week as melting snowpacks pose an imminent threat to the Red River Valley, according to forecasts.

"We're looking at a situation with all the ingredients for near record flooding in the upper Midwest," said Jack Hayes, director of the NWS. "Sudden snowpack melts due to warm temperatures or a heavy rain could further complicate the flooding on the northern plains." Conditions suggest a strong likelihood that the crest could be among the top five on record.






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Disaster Planning Lessons from a Civil War Battle

I recently finished a good book on a seemingly obscure Civil War battle, called Where the South Lost the War: An Analysis of the Fort Henry-Fort Donelson Campaign, February 1862. Oddly enough, as I finished it, I came to realize there are many parallels between this particular battle and business continuity planning.

In short, General U.S. Grant marched his largely inexperienced army against two forts to seize control of two rivers at the Kentucky/Tennessee border.

The battle wasn't won so much by a superior force defeating a smaller or less armed one. Instead, it is a classic example of bad managerial decision-making that created a set of circumstances that resulted in a disaster of their own making, and an avoidable one at that.

Here are a few lessons that any business leader can take from it:

Any planning requires leadership buy-in

The fort commanders were never able to convince the Western theater general , General Albert Sydney Johnston, of their positions' importance and likelihood of an attack. Therefore, any planning they did was almost a moot point until it was too late. Their defenses were only loosely tied to the Confederacy's larger strategy and enjoyed little, if any, support from above.

Lesson: Any plan, whether it is in business or battle, must have support from leadership. Moreover, they must believe in the intrinsic value so necessary resources can be allotted. Otherwise, it is doomed to fail.

Align priorities

Because Johnston failed to ensure his subordinates' defense plans linked to the overall strategy, his own priorities were misaligned. For example, Johnston directed his scarce resources in many directions during the months leading up to the battle; The forts themselves were poorly positioned for the terrain because no engineers were available during the design phase. As a result, Fort Henry flooded in the weeks leading up to the battle.

In another example, Johnston stretched his combat troops over a long, thin line across Kentucky and Tennessee rather than concentrating them to meet an enemy force in any particular location.

While looking at the broader strategy of holding every inch in the Western Theater, Johnston initially failed to establish appropriate priorities for his subordinates, much less re-prioritize as events unfolded. Resources and combat troops continued to move to areas that were not threatened even once the battle was underway.

Lesson: In business continuity planning, leaders must take a good, hard look at their organizational functions to determine which ones are mission critical so they may focus all efforts and resources on protecting or re-establishing those functions as quickly as possible in the event of an interruption.

Leaders must admit that they cannot protect every part of their business simultaneously during a disaster. Nor can they resume all operations at the same time in the disaster recovery phase. Therefore, some elements will fall into second and third tier levels of importance, which dictates that they get sequenced lower on the priority list.


Establish a clear hierarchy

Through Johnston's lack of leadership, four Confederate brigadier generals were on the scene at Fort Donelson. One was formally in command, though the others contested his status. As a result, no clear command structure existed through which orders were issued.

Lesson: In the planning phase, and especially during the execution stage, a clear hierarchy is absolutely necessary. Anything less will make matters difficult, at best.

Recognize when a disaster is at hand

Once the battle was underway, Johnston failed to react in a timely manner. Fort Henry fell within a matter of hours to Grant's army, who then quickly marched from Fort Henry to seal off Fort Donelson just a few miles away. The stage was then set for the eventual loss of an entire army.

Johnston held thousands of troops near the battle, but did not commit them for fear of a second attack in another area, which never materialized. The end result was that he sat idly by, gave no direction to his subordinates in the conflict, and allow a preventable disaster to unfold.

Lesson: Disasters may not always be recognizable as soon as they begin, but once it does become known, action is required. Businesses should watch for signs that events are already unfolding and take appropriate measures.

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Staying Safe in a Tornado

As we all know, Spring is a time of strong storms. The Red Cross has declared this Severe Weather Preparedness Week and has issued several suggestions for being prepared.

1) Prepare a tornado plan – Identify a safe place for workers to gather if a tornado is in the area and make sure everyone knows where it is.

2) Assemble a disaster supply kit – The kit should include at least 3-5 days worth of supplies in a container. It should include food, water, medicine, three gallons of water per person, protective clothing and bedding, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, and written instructions on how to shut off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so.

3) Stay alert when threatening weather is in your area. Tune into your local radio or TV station for the latest developments.

4) Seek shelter during a tornado – Find a place that will shelter you from flying glass and other objects. If you are in a vehicle or mobile home/office trailer, leave immediately for a stable shelter. If outside, go to a basement or a low-lying area.

5) Stay safe after a tornado has passed – Avoid downed power lines and other hazards. Tune into your local radio or TV stations for information and instructions. Inspect your business for damage, using a flashlight for lighting.

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Protecting Your Business From Mother Nature

Stumble It!

The rare February tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma are a good reminder that Mother Nature can strike your business at any time. Aside from luck, your best chance of surviving is to plan ahead. Here are five simple steps you can take today:

1. Get a disaster preparedness plan

Most successful businesses started with plans, a basic business plan, a marketing plan, etc. Likewise, a continuity or disaster plan is essential to make your business resilient. Chances of survival are greatly reduced without one.

2. Have insurance to fit your needs

This one should be a no-brainer. Your insurance policy should be able to replace many parts of your business. Ensure your policy is customized to fit your needs specifically. For example, say you own a retail store with a certain type of shelving. If half of your shelves get destroyed in a fire, the insurance company will want to replace just the damaged ones. But what happens if exact replacements aren't available? Do you want to settle for mismatched shelves in your store? Your policy should address these types of issues.

3. Be prepared to set up an alternative worksite

Getting back to business as quickly as possible is the name of the game. However, many natural disasters can destroy your original worksite. You should plan to have an alternative place to conduct business, if at all possible.

4. Keep backup copies offsite

Like insurance, this one is a no-brainer in today's tech-heavy world. But, it is often overlooked or simply forgotten. Set up a regularly scheduled back-up procedure for your critical data and keep it somewhere safe and away from your business.

Earlier this month (February), I learned that my own accountant kept her back-up records in her office. In the middle of tax season, she – and by extension, her clients -- would be utterly ruined if a disaster struck. The risk could be greatly reduced by simply storing her data somewhere – anywhere – else.

5. Have a cash reserve to pay bills and employees

After a disaster, you're going to need money. Bills will need to be paid and, more importantly, your employees are going to need it. Following a disaster, you will need your workers so you can get back to business. They, on the other hand, are most likely going to need cash to take care of their families. If you have a cash reserve, you will be helping both yourself and them.

In this day and age, having a disaster plan is becoming a critical part of surviving in the business world. It just makes good common sense. These five steps are not comprehensive, but do give you a good start on the basics of a plan.

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Father of Islamic Nuclear Proliferation Set Free

Stumble It!

A Pakistani court released A.Q. Khan from his home arrest last week. Khan had been serving a out a sentence handed down during President Musharraf's rule after it came to light that the scientist was responsible for providing nuclear know-how to Libya, Iran, North Korea, and possibly others.

Khan has long been considered a hero in Pakistan and among many Muslim groups for his efforts to build Nuclear capabilities for Islamic countries.

Some Pakistani authorities are trying to restrict Khan's movements and phone calls in reaction to Western response to his release. It is believed that Khan may help further Iran's nuclear ambitions and capabilities if he is allowed to roam free again. For example, some believe he could help Iran develop nuclear warheads for their long-range missiles.

As a Wall Street Journal editorial put it, if a U.S. city ever suffers a nuclear detonation, Khan will share a large part of the blame.

Al Qaeda Experiment Goes Awry

Stumble It!

According to recent media reports, an Al Qaeda terrorist cell in Algeria was wiped out when an unconventional weapon experiment went awry. At least 40 operatives are reported dead.

While some reports claim it was a botched experiment with the bubonic plague, U.S. Intelligence officials say they do not know whether it was a biological or chemical weapon that killed them. Officials are only confirming that Al Qaeda shut down the base where the incident occurred and that a communication was intercepted on its way to an Al Qaeda group hiding in the mountains of Pakistan.

This incident shows the group's determination to develop unconventional weapons. They have been pursuing biological and chemical weapons since at least the late 1990s. Experts believe Al Qaeda will continue to pursue development because they are more likely to succeed in manufacturing and deploying them than obtaining nukes.


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HAZMAT Spill on Highway, Media Doesn't Notice

Stumble It!


Early Saturday morning, a truck carrying environmentally hazardous material overturned on a ramp between two interstates and spilled a small amount of liquid, according to one account. Authorities said there was no reason for concern.

Even though the ramp was closed for more than 16 hours while the wreck was cleaned up, the local media hardly said a word about it. One local TV channel reported on their website very briefly. Others, however, have remained oddly silent. In fact, the big story on the front page was Obama's arrival in D.C.

I am in no position to say whether this was a dangerous situation. However, I can say that Baton Rouge is surrounded by chemical plants of all kinds. It is not uncommon to have industrial hazardous material spills in the area. The fact that the media largely remained silent on this one in such a central location is just strange. It leads me to believe that either they didn't know about the spill – doubtful because it happened in a central location and affected thousands of drivers throughout the day – or they decided to keep it quiet for some reason.

My opinion is they chose the latter, and here's why. A few months ago, a dopehead set his car on fire while cooking meth on his engine block as he drove down the interstate. According to reports, he leaked ammonia for more than a mile, which resulted in the interstate being shut down for most of the day while hazmat teams cleaned it up. The media had no problem reporting that incident. So what is the difference? I'm not really sure, but I intend to find out.

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