Develop Strong Continuity of Operational Plans

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In the CHEMTREC State of the Industry Survey, 61% of organizations surveyed did not have a good understanding of how their emergency response, crisis management, and business continuity management mechanisms fit together to form a holistic response. A holistic, coordinated response, recovery, and continuity program is a critical first step for every organization. There has been an increase in interest in continuity of operations planning with COVID-19, but while many COOP plans were designed specifically with COVID in mind, organizations should ensure that their plans consider the significant impacts that a hurricane could have and that their mitigation and continuity strategies will work in these scenarios.

6. Improve Crisis Management Plans
A lack of strategic-level crisis management planning can lead to poor coordination band database and decision-making. Good crisis management plans enable a company to set the strategic intent and support operational and tactical operations in hurricane preparedness.

7. Conducting Transportation Risk Assessments
Even if organizations are not directly in the path of a major storm, the impact on supply chains can be significant. Organizations need to work to understand not only their supply chain, but also the potential impact of a hurricane on their transportation network. Route risk assessments help identify vulnerabilities in transportation routes and modes, allowing companies to develop contingency plans that will mitigate not only the direct impact of an event, but also the potential knock-on effects on transportation infrastructure in the event of a hurricane. Inadequate transportation risk assessments, coupled with a lack of understanding of supply chains, can jeopardize the continuity of operations.



8. Review and update plans regularly and observe a 'Health Check'
If plans are not reviewed regularly, organizations can be unprepared for new and emerging risks. Outdated plans may not be effective during an actual event. On the flip side, after the COVID pandemic, many organizations may have strategies in place that improve their continuity of operations planning, and many more staff are now able to work remotely, eliminating the need for backup office space. So reviewing plans can lead to cost savings! Get a free health check here