{"title":"Active shooters: The underutilisation of emergency operations centres - the need for a checklist to guide response and recovery.","authors":"Mikel Alford, Rachel Hollinger","doi":"10.69554/WFRD1370","DOIUrl":"10.69554/WFRD1370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergency operations centre (EOC) is a critical emergency response and recovery component that provides information management and resource allocation. EOCs are often used during all hazards; however, after reviewing over 25 after-action reports for active shooter incidents, they are frequently underutilised. Not activating or delaying activation can slow recovery efforts and lead to chaos for the first responders and the public due to a lack of situational awareness. Historical active shooter incidents, such as the San Bernardino attack, Uvalde school shooting and Aurora theatre shooting, highlight both the challenges and successes of EOC activations. Positive examples, including the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) shooting and Pulse Nightclub attack, demonstrate how timely EOC activation improved resource coordination, victim services and public communications. A specialised active assailant checklist for EOC operations has remained largely absent even though the incidents pose a complex threat. The City of Murrieta and the City of Temecula worked to fill that void. They developed an 'Active Shooter EOC Checklist', informed by lessons learned from previous mass shootings and resources such as the 'United on Guns' protocol. The checklist guides the agencies through emergency operations, ensuring public communication, victim assistance, volunteer and donation management, recovery and other critical functions are not missed. This paper describes how EOC utilisation can streamline response operations, reduce fatalities and support community recovery efforts. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"18 4","pages":"381-394"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144062623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Suzy Fitzgerald, Virginia Riggall, Jennifer Quevedo
{"title":"Enhancing healthcare emergency management training through virtual reality simulation.","authors":"Suzy Fitzgerald, Virginia Riggall, Jennifer Quevedo","doi":"10.69554/CTPY9516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.69554/CTPY9516","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper examines the challenges associated with training healthcare systems to respond effectively to rare, high-risk and complex disaster events. It explores the potential application of virtual reality (VR) simulation in healthcare emergency management training, describes a pilot education programme implemented by a large healthcare organisation for mass casualty incident (MCI) triage training using VR simulation, outlines steps to implement VR simulation into the healthcare emergency management training curriculum, and discusses possible future directions for further development and research in this area.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"18 3","pages":"222-240"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Accelerating transformation in resilience through sector-wide scenario exercising.","authors":"Ben White, Hannah Suiter","doi":"10.69554/EKTT6281","DOIUrl":"10.69554/EKTT6281","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper explores the outcomes of WISE 2023, a sector-wide exercise conducted within Hong Kong's financial sector, focused on business continuity management (BCM) and enhancing operational resilience in response to emerging crises. The exercise tested financial institutions' crisis response capabilities through scenariobased simulations, fostering improvements in BCM, crisis communication and regulatory compliance. Key insights from WISE 2023 highlight the critical importance of early engagement in the planning process, building a diverse and collaborative core team, and clearly defining objectives to evaluate success. The exercise also underscored the value of incorporating external expertise and technology to enhance realism and coordination. Role clarity and strong leadership were essential for effective execution, while embedding the exercise within a broader, continuous programme fostered long-term resilience. The findings emphasise that post-exercise reviews, continuous stakeholder engagement and iterative learning are vital to maintaining preparedness and operational resilience. This paper provides BCM practitioners and exercise professionals with valuable lessons for improving crisis response in the financial sector. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"19 1","pages":"36-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Planning for large-scale special events: The event planning process and the role of emergency managers.","authors":"Brevyn Mettler, Molly Uemura","doi":"10.69554/BOAK7410","DOIUrl":"10.69554/BOAK7410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Planning for large-scale special events is a critical aspect of public safety and community engagement. While such events offer significant cultural and economic benefits, they also present unique challenges for local jurisdictions, including increased emergency call volumes, potential civil disturbances and risks of multi-casualty incidents (MCIs). This paper explores the comprehensive planning process needed to ensure both successful and safe events, focusing on collaboration among emergency managers, public safety officials and event organisers. It highlights common misconceptions surrounding event permitting, such as the belief that planning is only necessary for high-risk events or that a one-size-fits-all approach suffices. Additionally, it addresses the impacts of large-scale events on local resources and communities, outlining the key steps in the planning process: team selection, threat and vulnerability assessments, safety meetings and post-event evaluations. By providing a structured framework, this paper equips stakeholders with the tools to enhance safety and ensure that events are well coordinated and aligned with public safety needs. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"19 1","pages":"27-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synergy potential between business continuity management and incident response management and the resulting added value to strengthen the competitiveness of companies in the market.","authors":"Christoph Clavadetscher, Peter E Fischer","doi":"10.69554/CDTA8583","DOIUrl":"10.69554/CDTA8583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To identify the synergy potential between business continuity management (BCM) and incident response management (IRM), the two concepts must be considered in the business context of cyber resilience management. A professional information security management focuses on protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and information during normal operations. Its main process is through proactive risk management to minimise possible failures and threats. BCM unfolds its protection of core business processes in the event of a cyber incident by swift detection, response and recovery. IRM is the technical process of cyber crisis management, whereby existing IRM processes are activated in the event of a cyber incident. Besides the key differences in terms of the protection goals or type of measures, several synergy potentials can be identified between BCM and IRM. Furthermore, both BCM and IRM place great importance on employee awareness in cyber risk and continuous improvement. These are key elements to sustainably strengthen cyber resilience in the continuity and stabilisation phase. Both a business-orientated BCM and an IT-focused IRM mitigate the consequences of a cyberattack. Utilising the synergies of BCM and IRM ensures optimum business continuity, minimal loss impact and rapid restoration of normal operations. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"19 1","pages":"77-96"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adapting workplace violence strategies to manage company risk and the modern workforce paradigm.","authors":"Robert Achenbach, Debra Andersen","doi":"10.69554/NTRS4803","DOIUrl":"10.69554/NTRS4803","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As the remote workforce evolves, security professionals must align the workplace violence strategy to secure assets, data and employees to manage company risk tolerances. The threat of workplace violence is not only confined to the traditional office space, it is also a relevant threat for employees working from their own homes. Employees working from home do not have access to the same physical security protections or practices in place in the pre-pandemic workplace. This paper examines considerations for identifying and preparing for threats of violence and establishing a proactive approach for securing the new workforce paradigm. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"18 4","pages":"327-339"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144037450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unscripted resilience: Improv as a training tool for business continuity and emergency management leaders.","authors":"Jaeson A Weber, Abrielle Grasty","doi":"10.69554/SHGH3314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.69554/SHGH3314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective leadership training is crucial for fostering organisational resilience and ensuring community safety in the dynamic fields of emergency management and business continuity. Traditional training methods often fail to develop the adaptability and quick thinking necessary for crises. This paper explores the innovative use of improvisational (improv) techniques as a potent training tool for developing critical leadership skills. Improv exercises enhance adaptability, quick decision making and clear communication, preparing leaders to handle crises confidently and swiftly. Furthermore, the paper highlights how improv fosters team building by encouraging collaboration, trust and mutual support among team members. By leveraging improv, organisations can better equip their leaders with the skills to manage realworld emergencies, maintain resilient operations and strengthen team cohesion. The paper also connects improv training to established leadership theories, underscoring its critical role in emergency and emergency management.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"18 3","pages":"268-280"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial.","authors":"Lyndon Bird","doi":"10.69554/GUUC5464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.69554/GUUC5464","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"18 3","pages":"220-221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial.","authors":"Lyndon Bird","doi":"10.69554/XCOY6093","DOIUrl":"10.69554/XCOY6093","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"19 1","pages":"4-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John J Burke, Nina Shaafi Kabiri, Kevin Thomas, Michael Karam
{"title":"The incident command system and recovery: Establishing the recovery section in the ICS to promote sustained recovery operations.","authors":"John J Burke, Nina Shaafi Kabiri, Kevin Thomas, Michael Karam","doi":"10.69554/VYSH1374","DOIUrl":"10.69554/VYSH1374","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper explores the importance of adopting a broader perspective and applying lessons learned from response and recovery efforts to establish a more adaptive incident command system (ICS) approach to recovery and resilience. The National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) has been used since its introduction in 2004 to a consistent nationwide framework and approach to enable government at all levels (federal, state, tribal, local), the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from and mitigate the effects of incidents regardless of their cause, size, location or complexity.1 NIMS provides a consistent framework for responders to handle incidents of any size or significance including those that require large command structures to ensure appropriate objectives and resources are applied to the incident within a common framework.2 While NIMS and the National Defense Response Framework (NDRF) provide specific objectives for response, less attention has been given to establishing a recovery section within ICS to enable small, medium and large communities to facilitate recovery in a structured fashion. Much of the incident command system is used for response operations. This paper examines the history of ICS and the emergence of recovery and resiliency and their intersection to offer communities with a practical recovery platform and playbook. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.</p>","PeriodicalId":39080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of business continuity & emergency planning","volume":"18 4","pages":"372-380"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144048731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}