Here are some very off-beat disasters - would your plan handle them.

Halloween is but a few days off, and the first article this week seemed to be appropriate for the season. But it then got us thinking about how we would plan for some disruptions or disasters that simply aren’t predictable – and may never be. This could be a good test for your business continuity plan… how could you adapt what you have to respond to some of the situations in this week’s issue?

You haven’t planned for a zombie invasion, have you? (Item #1) This molasses manufacturer might have wished he had a disaster plan. (Item #2) Should we be preparing for a mega tsunami to hit the east coast? (Item #3)

The dog ate my homework is nothing compared to what happened to some of this data. (Item #4) Was this really the last great subsistence crisis in the US? (Item #5) How likely is it that you have considered destruction from a meteorite in your business continuity plan? (Item #6)

Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Mass Notification Systems to expedite their response to crises.

In the last several years, business, government, and education continuity planners have begun to us mass notification systems to expedite their response to crises, using technology to deliver recorded messages to large numbers of people in a very short time via telephone, email, pager, fax, PDA, and other channels. The education community in particular has gotten on board this bandwagon, and their efforts offer us a lot of good information on the subject of mass notification. This issue also point out that establishing best practices should be the first step in setting up a mass notification system.

If you've been wondering how to select a mass notification system, here's help. (Item #1)   There are two elements to a comprehensive mass notification system: real-time public address and electronic notification. (Item #2)   Technology alone won't save the day when a crisis hits. (Item #3) 

Organizations must be prepared to respond quickly to events that interrupt their operations. (Item #4)   Wondering about the effectiveness of various kinds of emergency alerts? Check out this cheat sheet. (Item #5)   If you'd like a little information on how mass notification systems began, the technology they use, etc., read this. (Item #6)  

The full issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Being prepared for the worst can mitigate the damaging effects of terrorism.

Terrorist acts result in destruction, but they also can have extensive physical and other collateral consequences. Along with the physical and psychological effects, major re-allocation of resources occurs in order to repair the damage, recreate a sense of normality, and institute protective actions after the fact. Being prepared for the worst is the most important action you can take to mitigate the damaging effects of terrorism.

How can business leaders lead in the wake of terrorist actions? (Item #1) Terrorism can hit your organization hard; what can you do to decrease terrorism risk? (Item #2) Counter-terrorism brings to mind police, military and the CIA, but corporations? (Item #3)

Even small organizations have been targeted by terrorists; how can you protect yours? (Item #4) Threats of cyber terrorism are increasing daily. (Item #5) Facilities managers underestimate the vulnerability of buildings to terrorist attack, may have misconceptions about likely targets and may be unprepared for such an eventuality. (Item #6)

Read the full issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

As H1N1 spreads, are you prepared to shelter-in-place for a few days? A few months?

As the H1N1 swine flu virus is increasing in various parts of the country, some experts are advising that we must be prepared to shelter in place for anywhere from a few days to a few months. We hope it won’t come to that. It is important, however, to make sure we know what to do just in case – and having supplies and information on hand can only be a positive thing. The items below may be helpful to you in your preparations for sheltering in place for any reason that might turn up.

Shelter-in-place and areas of refuge have a place in today’s high-rise buildings. (#1) It's important for landlords to be familiar with their shelter-in-place. (#2) It’s important to understand how “lockdown” and “shelter in place” differ. (#3)

Here are some instructions on how to shelter in place at home, work, or school. (#4) This article provides a collection of techniques that are the accepted practices for achieving maximum safety for employees in shelter-in-place situations. (#5) Where to get emergency shelter-in-place supplies. (#6)

Read the entire issue of this week's NewsBriefs at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs