Understanding the Preparedness Cycle

Once institutional and commercial facilities create emergency-response plans, the plans require continuous re-evaluation and improvement. The preparedness cycle illustrates this concept. Throughout the preparedness process and its mission areas, maintenance and engineering departments should:

• know the business, its mission, vision, and values — as well as the business continuity plans of supported clients — and align management capabilities to support them
• know facility systems, focus on their criticalities, support the hierarchy of response, and remember to consider what-if scenarios
• develop emergency operating procedures and ensure tools are in place so technicians can execute the procedures when required
• enhance preparation for emergencies through education, training, and drills.

— Megan Marvil, P.E., and Jim Van de Voorde