Disaster Recovery Journal- Volume 19, Issue 4 - Fall 2006 Issue

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Fall 2006 Issue

DISASTER RECOVERY
JOURNAL

P. O. Box 510110
St. Louis, MO 63151
(314) 894-0276
Fax: (314) 894-7474
Internet www.drj.com
E-mail drj@drj.com

PUBLISHER
Richard L. Arnold, CBCP
richard@drj.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jon Seals
jon@drj.com

SENIOR EDITOR
Janette Ballman
janette@drj.com

COPY EDITORS
Richard Sandhofer
richards@drj.com
Pamela Clifton
pamelaclifton@hotmail.com

ADVERTISING
Robert Arnold
bob@drj.com

_____________

Corporate

President/CEO
Richard L. Arnold, CBCP
richard@drj.com

Vice President
Robert Arnold
bob@drj.com

CONFERENCE COORDINATOR
Patti Fitzgerald, CBCP
patti@drj.com

CONFERENCE REGISTRAR
Merce Knese
mercedes@drj.com

CIRCULATION
Laura Baugh
laurab@drj.com

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Pat Corcoran, IBM
Michael Croy, Forsythe
Jeff Dato, MBCP, KPMG,LLP
Edward S. Devlin, CBCP, E.S. Devlin
James Hammill, CBCP, JMH Consulting Inc.
John Jackson, Albright Advisors, LLC
Patricia McAnally, SunGard Availability
Jerry Montella, Mail-Gard
Randy Till, CBCP, MasterCard International
Brian Turley, Strohl Systems
Belinda Wilson, CBCP, Hewlett-Packard
William Worsley,CBCP, Dow Chemical

INTERNATIONAL
CONTACTS
England: Thom Hetherington
Business Continuity
Phone: 0161-237-1007
thomh@tempus.demon.co.uk

Australia: Anthony J. Harvey
Journal of Business Continuity
Phone: 0011-613-953-0055-8
fax: 0011-613-953-0528
sector@notability.com.au

Japan: Shinji Hosotsubo
Quake Japan Co., Ltd.
Phone: 03-3215-2880
fax: 03-3215-2881

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Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Future

By RICHARD L. ARNOLD, CBCP

We recently marked the anniversaries of several major disasters in our history. Each of these events had a profound affect on the contingency planning industry.
On Sept. 11, the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks was recognized. This somber anniversary was a time to reflect on the tragedy and loss that occurred that day. It was also a time to review the changes and improvements that have been made since the attacks. As a contingency planner, I find the rebuilding stage to be an important one for our entire nation. I am glad to see progress on the memorial being made. I also appreciate hearing stories about the businesses that were affected. To read more about the fifth anniversary and the changes which have occurred in our industry since then, see the article on page 16.
Another recent anniversary was that of Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29. Hurricane Rita’s one-year anniversary followed on Sept. 24. Reconstruction in the affected areas along the Gulf Coast has been slow, but steady.
Structures are being rebuilt and levies strengthened. Businesses are returning and so is the workforce. In Louisiana, hit hard by both hurricanes, FEMA has funded $5.5 billion to repair and replace damaged infrastructure, including schools, water systems, roads and bridges. Though there is still a long road ahead, it is nice to see the progress that has been made in the first year.
While reading about and watching the coverage for these anniversaries, I began to think about other disasters that have happened during the past decade or so. A few that stand out in my mind are Hurricane Andrew, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the Los Angeles riots.
The tsunami from 2004 was also a huge disaster. On Dec. 26, 2006, it will have been two years since the huge wave destroyed the coastlines of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and numerous other areas. The recovery is reported to be slow. In Indonesia, one of the hardest hit areas, $2.2 billion has been spent on rebuilding. Another $7 billion has been earmarked for reconstruction costs. Experts predict it could be five to 10 years before recovery is complete.
One slow point in the rebuilding process is confusion over property boundaries. The tsunami washed away so many landmarks and natural landforms that it is difficult for property owners to find the correct boundaries. Another problem is identifying the rights to property belonging to those killed in the tsunami.
In Oklahoma City, it has been more than 11 years since the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. This shocking event was one of the first to open our eyes to what terrorists could do. I vividly remember watching the scenes unfold on television. It was one of the first catalysts to kick the business continuity industry into high gear.
A memorial and museum now stand at the former site of the federal building. Thousands visit each year to view the exhibits and information. The areas around the site have returned to normalcy, though the business names and owners have changed a few times over the past decade.
Yes, I’ve seen and reported on a lot of disasters over the years. It’s amazing how many there have been – and how they have shaped our industry.
Another anniversary that is fast approaching is that of Disaster Recovery Journal. We will have our 20th anniversary in 2007. Come celebrate with us at one of our conferences. We’re planning big things – and giving away big prizes. Spring World 2007 will be held March 25 – 28 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. You don’t want to miss your chance to attend. Check our website for our conference brochures. Register early!
I look forward to seeing you in 2007.