The National Weather Service has a program that rates both organizations and communities as “storm ready” based on the level of preparedness updating those organizations have undertaken.  So far, NWS has given the rating to 29 such entities.  One example of an update for the 21^st century: gone are the days that companies rely on telephone “fan-out” phone calls and other alerting systems that are slow, cumbersome and prone to human failure with each step.  The gold standard now?  A comprehensive and dynamic preparedness plan that is continually updated and includes automatically-generated alerts that utilize status websites, email, texting and intelligent notification (text-to-voice phone calls sent to hundreds or thousands of recipients automatically).  I remember fan-outs from my childhood in the ‘70’s.  I also remember the primacy of Pong.

The rating system is a genuinely noble effort given the incredible importance of preparing for the consequences of severe weather, especially in regards to the impact it can have on your employees and customers.

Given the absolute necessity for every business to be actively and continually engaged in business continuity planning (BCP) and disaster preparedness practices, last year ImpactWeather created its own readiness rating program, ImpactReady.  In order to help our clients create or refine their disaster preparedness plans, we recruited a seasoned BCP professional and nationally recognized leader in the field, Mike Thomson, to manage the program.  A substantial number of clients have already not only realized the potential but, in some cases, reaped the rewards of this vitally important business solution.  (Watch a 2-minute video about the importance of BCP in today’s world.) 

Incidentally, Mike was elected Chairman and CEO of the national Association of Continuity Planners (ACP) in last month.  The vast majority of business interruptions are caused by severe weather, although the ACP also promotes awareness of other types of threats that should receive attention.

Savvy businesses now understand that BCP isn’t about a single system or program . . . it’s a mindset.  And often, depending on the size and complexity of an organization, it requires that an individual or group of individuals be engaged full-time in the vital practice of making sure that organization is ready, regardless of the cause of a business disruption.   Mike and his team of business continuity professionals spend each day helping those individuals refine their plans, practices and standards to the point where they are, indeed, ImpactReady.