Your business is not an ice cream parlor so stop treating your emergency preparedness priorities like your developing a schedule for the flavor of the month. Not that there is anything wrong with ice cream parlors or flavor of the month schedules, some of them are quite delicious. I digress.
I receive many phone calls and emails asking me to conduct a threat risk assessment then when I do and recommend that you may need to focus on natural disaster training and emergencies only to be asked to do active attacker procedures and simulations, I ask why?. My concern is that the probability of that situation happening to you is low. High risk, but a very low probability that it’s going to happen to you. Depending on where you are, as an example earthquakes may be a greater concern, protect in place due to flooding in your area, how about simply a major flood at your workplace.
Don’t get me wrong, Many establishments unfortunately need to have an active attacker procedure and train frequently for that type of situation. But if all the data is pointing towards a higher probability of you experiencing a floor or earthquake over an active attacker situation where do you think the higher interest in procedure development and training should go?
This all boils down to your threat risk assessment. When and if done correctly will give you volumes of information for you to think about. It will also give you clarity on concerns that you didn’t know or were unsure about.
Some emergencies happen quickly and the cost associated (some immeasurable) can be very high. Some take some time and may last for days or weeks or even years and the cost and reputation damage may be just as costly or more. My advice is to really evaluate the information you’re given in your threat risk assessment. Don’t be the guy/girl that thinks they’re looking like a hero because they arranged for an active attacker mock training exercise only to be the same individual who wasn’t prepared for the flood that’s about to hit you this month…and next.
If you can afford the time to really think it through, do it. Once you’ve done it and you’ve moved forward, procedures and training are done…do it again.
Plan the Work. Work the Plan.