PPBI has offered courses for over a decade to spread the word on how partnerships work in business continuity, disaster recovery and emergency management. Our courses always address both private and public sectors. Recently, we are seeing a convergence of private and public sector approaches to continuity planning, whether for businesses, IT departments, or government operations. Public Law 110-53, signed into law in August 2007 recommends an accreditation for private sector businesses that have continuity plans. The private sector is encouraged to adopt the NFPA 1600 standard, which was initially focused on public sector emergency planning. The idea that a public sector standard may be beneficial to the private sector supports what PPBI has been advocating for years – public/private partnerships. There are more similarities than differences when it comes to preparing for or responding to disasters.
This idea is not new. The 9/11 Commission Report stated that “Private-sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post-9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money, and national security.” In addition, “…the private sector controls 85 percent of the critical infrastructure in the nation.” Preparedness in the private sector and public sector for rescue, restart, and recovery of operations should include plans for evacuation, communications, and continuity of operations. If these recommendations add value, and both private and public sectors are engaged in them, then partnerships make sense to add value to the processes in both sectors. The Commission recommended “…that compliance with the [NFPA 1600] standard should define the standard of care owed by a company to its employees and the public…” In fact, the report states that under certain conditions, “...the “first” first responders will almost certainly be civilians.”
PPBI will continue to encourage partnerships and advocate for public and private sector business continuity planners and emergency managers to train and work together.
Today, private/public partnerships are encouraged not only by PPBI, but by the Department of Homeland Security, the Association of Contingency Planners, the International Association of Emergency Managers, Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI), and virtually everyone concerned with prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and restoration.
At DRJ in San Diego, on Sept. 14, 2008, PPBI will sponsor a mock disaster wherein 200 conference participants will engage in responding to a public health disaster. In such scenarios, no one company is alone. PPBI will make available the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services new publication, “Public Health Emergency Response: A Guide for Leaders and Responders.” The use of this highly informative reference tool during the exercise will demonstrate how public emergency services can add value to private business continuity response. Only 200 conference attendees may attend this Mock Disaster, so register early to reserve your place.
Want to learn more about adding value through partnerships? See www.ppbi.org or consider joining PPBI. You can join on line or by taking a PPBI pre- or post-course at a DRJ conference. Send us news of your successful partnerships: ppbi@twcny.rr.com .
Dr. Tom Phelan is president of Strategic Teaching Associates, Inc., author of “Emergency Management and Tactical Response Operations: Bridging the Gap,” (2008) Elsevier. He has volunteered to design and facilitate PPBI courses since 1998.
"Appeared in DRJ's Summer 2008 Issue"
