Every business should have a disaster preparedness plan and conduct exercises to determine how quickly operations will be restored following a disaster. Conducting these exercises help improve the overall strength of your disaster plan (assuming you have one) and the ability of your business to get back on its feet after the initial disaster has passed.
- Walkthroughs, workshops, or orientation seminars – This is basic training for team members designed to familiarize employees with emergency response, business continuity and crisis communications plans, and their roles and responsibilities as defined in these plans.
- Tabletop exercises – Discussion-based sessions where employees review their roles during an emergency and their responses to a particular emergency situation.
- Full-scale exercises – Takes place at your business, using the specific equipment and personnel that would be called upon during a real disaster event.
- Functional exercises – Allows staff & management to validate plans and readiness by performing their duties in a simulated post-disaster environment. Activities for a this exercise are scenario-driven, such as critical infrastructure failure needed for your business to operate.
