Preparing for the Human Impact of Crisis and Disaster

Boston, MA, October 27, 2006 --(PR.com)-- The recent benchmarking study conducted by Continuity Insights and KPMG revealed an interesting finding. 35% of those who responded indicated that the “weakest link” in their continuity plans and strategy were “people risks.” Only 19% cited technology risks and 27% cited “process risk.” The Katrina situation highlighted the breakdown of the social infrastructure in New Orleans (for example: 5 days after the storm made landfall at least 500 police officers were missing) that occurs when people's needs are not accounted for in the planning process.

This missing link of “people risks” is the area of specialization of Organizational Resilience International (ORI). Pioneering the field of Human Impact Preparedness and Planning ORI has helped businesses and other organizations prepare for, respond to and recover from some of the world’s worst disasters, including 9/11, the 2005 Asian tsunami, hurricane Katrina and the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

ORI is pleased to announce the launch of the “Human Impact Preparedness Audit,” a series of one and two-day events that will bring business leaders together to assess their readiness, learn tools to prepare for and mitigate the impact of various hazards on their most important asset; their people. “If your facilities are open, your computers up and running, and your plant operational but your employees are not present or functioning optimally, how successful would you consider you Business Continuity Plan?” asks Jeffrey Weir, founding partner at ORI. “This is a frequently overlooked or under-prepared for component of a company’s overall crisis management plan…this audit provides leaders with the opportunity to assess their current state of readiness in this area and gives them a comprehensive and integrated model of preparing for the Human Impact of an event.” Also offered in the audit is an opportunity to put into practice their Human Impact Plan through a tabletop simulation exercise.

The trainings will be offered starting mid-January in multiple locations including Boston, New York, Chicago, Florida, and the mid-Atlantic. For more information ORI can be contacted at info@oriconsulting.com.

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