Plans require participation: Disaster recovery plans are ineffective without people

Cristina M. Delgado, BA, FFMA

doi:10.5055/jem.2007.0021

Authors

Cristina M. Delgado, BA, FFMA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2007.0021

Keywords:

human resources, disaster recovery, emergency management, business continuity, volunteers, business planning, municipal planning, building recovery planning

Abstract

Decision-making authorities throughout both the public and private sector invest substantial amounts of time and money into developing a recovery plan. Yet, some organizations fail to address who will execute the plan and how. Employee needs are not always being addressed and, as a result, many groups find themselves lacking support after a disaster. Operational restoration is jeopardized and this often affects the financial and psychological make up of a business. There are methods that help in identifying employee sensitivities. Once there is a solid understanding about recruiting the right recovery team, certain strategies promote adequate training and manpower. Essentially, people are behind every stage of emergency management. To produce desirable outcomes, material resources must combine with human resources.

Author Biography

Cristina M. Delgado, BA, FFMA

Lead Consultant, Orange County Government FEMA Task Force, Facilities Management Division, Orlando, Florida, and Florida Floodplain Managers Association (FFMA), Lake Mary, Florida.

References

Brown BJ: Disaster preparedness. In Disaster Preparedness and the United Nations: Advance Planning for Disaster Relief. Elmsford, NY: Pergamon Press, 1979:40.

Skinner CH, Mersham GA: Stress management. In Pat Brennan (ed.): Disaster Management: A Guide to Issues Management and Crisis Communication. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002:68-69, 133-134.

Lewis GW: Incident assessment: Proactive versus reactive measures. Reactions to crises, traumas, disasters, catastrophes. In Organizational Crisis Management: The Human Factor. Boca Raton: Auerbach Publications, 2006:46, 62-73.

Weisaeth L: PubMed. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Indexed for MEDLINE. Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=2624132&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum. Accessed December 4, 2006.

Nicholson WC: Emergency medical services. Using volunteer resources. The attorney’s role in emergency management. In Thomas CC (ed.): Emergency Response and Emergency Management Law: Cases and Materials. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, Ltd., 2003:88-89, 160-161, 267-268.

Online Sunshine: The Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature.Available at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=768.13&URL=CH0768/Sec13.HTM. Accessed December 5, 2006.

Erickson PA: Personnel training. In Emergency Response Planning for Corporate and Municipal Managers. San Diego: Academic Press, 1999:208.

Redlener I: Barrier 2: Failures of imagination. In Shelley Wanger (ed.): Americans at Risk:Why We Are Not Prepared for Megadisasters and What We Can Do Now. New York: Knopf, 2006:144.

Allinson RE: Crisis management and disaster prevention management. In Henk van Luijk, Patricia Werhane (eds.): Saving Human Lives: Lessons in Management Ethics. Dordrecht, London: Springer, 2005:64.

Basl WI, Frinell-Hanrahan KA: Volunteerism and emergency preparedness. In Kemp RO (ed.): Homeland Security Handbook for Citizens and Public Officials. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co, 2006:230-232.

Hiles AN, Rothstein Associates, Inc: Emergency response and operations. In Emergency Business Planning: Are you Prepared for Disaster? Jersey City, NJ: AICPA, 2002:5-7.