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March 31, 2006
When Disaster Strikes
Some time ago, recently after Katrina, I wrote an entry encouraging HR professionals to address some difficult quesitons about the organization's relationship to the community when disaster strikes.
Since then, some good progress has been made, including a book by Liz Guthridge, a colleague and friend on the topic with a forword by Sue Meisinger, SHRM's president. Susan also provided a good call to arms in her President's Letter in the February 2006 HR Magazine and SHRM provides a good research piece as a link to the online version of Susan's letter.
But as I walk around San Franciso marveling at all the commemorations of 1906 I can't help but think about how much more needs to be done beyond spilling ink in the professional trades. Honestly, are we ready?
In a major earthquake, virtually every system we rely on, including the very basic infrastructure that supplies water, food, heat and health care--not to mention secondary infastructure supplying ATMs with cash and gas stations with gas--is likely to disappear.
Employers, forget about the bricks and mortar for a moment:
--do you know how to find your employees? How to reconstruct your workforce?
--how to ensure that the care you paid third-party vendors (HMOs, insurance companies, etc.) will be provided even if their infrastructure is as damaged as yours?
If you don't, are you confident that someone else does?
If you are, can I have their number?
Posted by davidkippen at March 31, 2006 07:43 AM