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CAN YOUR BUSINESS SURVIVE A DISASTER?
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN CHECKLIST
PREPAREDNESS & PLANNING

 

PROCESS:

1) Does your organization have an emergency response plan?
a) Yes
b) No.

2) Do you have a copy of the plan, or know where you can easily gain access to a copy?
a) Yes
b) No

3) Have you reviewed those portions of the plan that may impact you?
a) Yes
b) No

4) Have you had a meeting with local first responders to familiarize them with your facility?
a) Yes
b) No

5) After an “event” occurs, is there a system in place to capture “lessons learned”?
a) Yes
b) No

6) Do you have a formal evacuation plan?
a) Yes
b) No

7) Have assembly points been designated for all employees in advance?
a) Yes
b) No

8) Is there a procedure in place for providing information to employees after normal business hours?
a) Yes
b) No

PEOPLE:
9) Are roles and responsibilities of personnel during an emergency clearly defined?
a) Yes
b) No

10) Are backup personnel identified?
a) Yes
b) No

11) Is there a designated spokesperson to address external inquiries, including media, public officials, etc.?
a) Yes
b) No

12) Have you met with critical suppliers to determine what emergency response plans they have in place?
a) Yes
b) No

13) Have you met with critical suppliers to determine what level of support they can provide should you experience a disaster?
a) Yes
b) No

14) Do you have a contingency plan to continue operations if key personnel were suddenly incapacitated?
a) Yes
b) No

15) If the business were to cease operations, are there plans in place for an orderly shutdown or buyout agreement?
a) Yes
b) No


TECHNOLOGY:
16) Are there protocols in place for internal and external security of paper and computer files?
a) Yes
b) No

17) Is there a company protocol for backing up files?
a) Yes
b) No

18) Is the file backup protocol followed and then verified at least annually by management?
a) Yes
b) No

19) Is there off site storage of backup files?
a) Yes
b) No

20) Does the company have a cold site at which to set up computer operations?
a) Yes
b) No

21) Does the company have a hot site to go to for computer operations?
a) Yes
b) No

22) Does your facility have back up/emergency generation available?
a) Yes
b) No

23) Does the plan address what to do if the facility you are located in becomes inaccessible?
a) Yes
b) No

24) Has a backup facility been identified?
a) Yes
b) No

25) Have alternate modes of communication been identified?
a) Yes
b) No

26) Is a set of building plans kept offsite for use in an emergency?
a) Yes
b) No

SCORE:


PLAN ADMINISTRATION
27) Is the emergency response plan treated as a controlled document?
a) Yes
b) No

28) Is the plan reviewed at least annually for any changes that need to be incorporated?
a) Yes
b) No

29) Is there a specific individual or department responsible for revisions to the plan?
a) Yes
b) No

30) Is there a protocol in place for tracking changes in the plan?
a) Yes
b) No

31) Does the plan contain personnel and critical contact information?
a) Yes
b) No

32) Is all critical contact information accurate and up-to-date?
a) Yes
b) No


33) Does the plan address any legal compliance or regulatory issues that must be addressed in the event of an emergency?
a) Yes
b) No

SCORE:


TRAINING & IMPLEMENTATION
34) Has your company conducted training on the use of the plan within the last 12 months?
a) Yes
b) No

35) Has your company conducted an exercise to test the plan within the last 12 months?
a) Yes
b) No

36) Is review of the plan included as part of new employee orientation?
a) Yes
b) No

37) Is the plan formally reviewed and updated annually?
a) Yes
b) No

38) Do you know your responsibilities during an emergency?
a) Yes
b) No
39) If your facility is evacuated do you know where to go?
a) Yes
b) No

SCORE:

REVIEW

Preparedness & Planning examines three areas: Process, People and Technology. Since this is the core of your plan, it’s important to be very critical when reviewing these questions. If you received a score of 76% or higher in this section, your Preparedness & Planning is probably adequate to survive an emergency. Identify and work on the other areas to close the gaps.

Plan Administration addresses the need for keeping your plan a living document. If you have a plan that isn’t reviewed periodically, information will be out of date and the plan will not be functional. Keeping it current will encourage personnel to use this valuable tool. Receiving a score of 71% or higher in this section would indicate adequate Plan Administration.

Training & Implementation ensures that all employees know how to use the plan and have had the opportunity to practice how they should perform in the event of an emergency. If you received a score of 66% or higher in this section, your Training & Implementation is probably adequate to survive an emergency.

Overall, if you received a final score of less than 74%, you should consider dedicating some additional resources in the very near future to addressing the weaknesses identified.

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Last modified: November 10, 2005