Our Annual Halloween Edition

Halloween is but a few days away, leading us once again to consider strange and unusual disasters that could befall us. No matter how far-fetched these incidents may seem, they do spur us to consider what we would do in such situations. Can you imagine how you would respond to these unimaginable events? How your crisis team would respond? Perhaps you need to put them to the test and encourage them to think about your BC plan and what adjustments they might make respond to some of the situations below.

Even the CDC is getting in on the fun... here's their guide to staying safe in a zombie attack. (Item #1) If you think zombies aren't real, perhaps you should read about these zombie outbreaks in the US. (Item #2) The University of Florida's disaster exercise featuring a zombie attack could a good test for your team. (Item #3)

Is Halloween unlucky? This awful disaster on Halloween night 1963 in Indianapolis might make you think so. (Item #4) In 1918, Halloween occurred in the midst of the Spanish flu pandemic; many cities had no Halloween. (Item #5) A sinkhole in Guatemala swallowed a 3-story building... what could you possibly do to prepare for such a disaster? (Item #6)

ENJOY !!!

Terrorism

"US foils Iran terror plot" read a recent headline in a British newspaper, describing the plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador... Once again, we have had an attempted act of terror at home, and it is likely such incidents will continue into the foreseeable future. In light of this, we felt we should revisit some information on dealing with such incidents.

Terrorism can happen anywhere; your organization could become a target as well. (Item #1) There are ways to prepare for terrorism just as for other threats. (Item #2) Here's an online program to help you and your organization become more aware of terrorism. (Item #3)

Suspicious letters and packages? Here's what to do. (Item #4) Good news for your events – hotels now emphasize terror training. (Item #5) If your organization does experience a traumatic event, here are some symptoms you might want to watch out for. (Item #6)


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Crisis Communications

Just because you have a communications strategy or component in your business continuity plan, don't assume you have a crisis communications plan that will work when you need it. There's communication... and there's communication. How much do you say? Who says it? When do you say it? Does everyone know what the plan is? Below are some articles that can help you transform your communication plan into a crisis communication plan.

Despite the addition of social media to crisis communication tools, some things have not changed. (Item #1) Your emergency communication strategy is like a fire drill for your communication plan. (Item #2) Business continuity plans lacking a communications ingredient are plans with a gaping hole. (Item #3)

Mishandling information during a crisis could result in a damaged reputation as well as lawsuits. (Item #4) The best of communication plans are less effective if they don't have effective emergency communication built in. (Item #5) This effective crisis communication strategy is known as A-C-T N-O-W. (Item #6)


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

Meetings & Events

Are you one of the folks who think "it can't happen here?" Think again. The potential for crisis is in attendance at every conference or meeting you plan or attend. The question you should be asking yourself is, "Have I really considered all the possibilities for crisis and do I have some way to deal with them?" The articles below can help you answer this question.

Every meeting plan should start with a risk assessment. (Item #1) Are your events in compliance with the revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act? (Item #2) Drinks at receptions… consider the risks. (Item #3)

Here are some meeting-specific tips for dealing with crisis. (Item #4) Association meeting planners need contingency plans more than their corporate counterparts. (Item #5) In an evacuation situation, if you think everything's okay when everyone's out of the building, think again. (Item #6)

The full issue as well as back issues are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs