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Planning: Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability Assessment Home • SWOT Analysis • Resources • Capabilities • Impact

Resources

Now that you’ve conducted a SWOT analysis, your team should have a good idea of where the organization stands in terms of emergency preparedness – both positive and negative.

Now you can begin to explore the resources, both internal and external, that are available to your organization.

You should consider how each resource can help you in different emergencies. It might be beneficial to list each type of emergency and develop lists of internal and external resources for each, even though in many cases these resources will overlap.

Develop a resource list

For each type of emergency, think about all of the resources that your organization might need. Think in broad terms, from the start of the emergency to its very end, from response to recovery. Resources can include things like battery-operated radios, flashlights, medical supplies and food rations, but remember to include other less common types of resources, such as employees trained in CPR, complete emergency contact information for all employees and computer backup procedures.

Some specific resources could include:

• Emergency contact info for external emergency personnel, such as the local emergency management office, fire department, hazmat organization, hospitals, local and state police and facility security.
• Emergency response equipment such as fire protection and suppression systems, communications systems such as two-way radios, first-aid kits and generators.
• Facilities that can be mobilized or converted into emergency operation centers, media briefing areas, shelters or first-aid stations. This list will vary depending on the space available.

Assess your resources

Once you’ve developed a lengthy and detailed list of the resources you will need, take time to look at each resource and determine whether or not you have it. If you don’t, you’ll need to include a process for obtaining that resource, whether it be as simple as purchasing batteries or as complex as getting emergency response training for your employees.

Remember to consider external resources, such as local police and fire departments. Will these response teams be able to get to your organization quickly, or will they first have to respond to other priority areas? Local emergency responders should be a part of your planning process.

Fill the gaps

To fill any gaps in your plan, you might need to do one or more of the following:

• Develop additional emergency procedures, or modify existing ones.
• Conduct additional training, either internally or through specialized contractors.
• Purchase additional emergency response equipment.
• Work with other local organizations to develop mutual aid agreements. Sometimes it is most cost-effective to help each other, as long as the other organization is located near enough to your business so that you can respond to the emergency together.