The volcano in Iceland has got me thinking about emergency response planning. Although I am not anticipating volcanic activity in Canada anytime soon, a less catastrophic event than that could easily bring the daily business of social housing to a standstill.

Ice Storm of 1998
The ice storm of 1998 was one such incident, which impacted more people than any weather-related event in Canadian history. In August 2003, during one of the hottest weeks of the year, over 50 million people in the north-eastern United States and Canada found themselves suddenly without power for at least 24 hours. Many were without electricity for 2 to 3 days.

The point is that when such a disaster occurs, it is often with little or no warning. While neither situation could have easily been foreseen, much less avoided, those individuals and businesses that took the time for emergency planning were able to mitigate the effects.

2 Emergency Planning Strategies
Generally, planning strategies fall under two categories: Emergency Response and Business Continuity. An Emergency Response Plan outlines the steps necessary to deal with a situation as it happens. It would include elements such as an evacuation plan and preparing emergency kits with food, water and other essentials. A Business Continuity Plan provides direction on how to put things back to normal once the emergency is over. Based on a “worst-case” scenario, the BCP would contain information on topics such as clearing debris, rebuilding destroyed offices, replacing non-operational computer equipment, and ensuring the continuity of processes and IT systems.

No one really likes to think about the possibility of a disaster, but the time to prepare for such an eventuality is now. Where do you start? SHSC has amassed a wealth of material, as well as comprehensive training, on the subject of Emergency Response Planning and Business Continuity Planning. If you are just looking for some assistance in getting started, or to inquire about the possibility of an education course in your area, give us a call at 1-877-733-SHSC (7472).

There might not be an earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami or asteroid in your immediate future, but at least you’ll be prepared.