When was the last time you and others reviewed your organization’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)? Or, collectively made changes to update or improve it? If the answer doesn’t immediately come to mind, it’s probably been too long.
Every five years might be the norm, but should it be? Really? It seems that something as important as your EOP should be current and applicable every day, month after month, year after year. After all, emergencies can unfold at any time and completely without warning.
What if a large-scale business disruption or life-threatening situation were to happen this Friday evening?
Would your people know exactly what to do? Or, where to perform their duties if your offices become inaccessible? Would they know, and more importantly, have the things they need to ensure operations and/or safeguard others?
Such information is a key part of your EOP. The problem is that these details vary on a continual basis. Employees come and go. Facilities open and close. Equipment gets replaced. Files are updated. Processes change.
For these reasons, an EOP should be a living document – not just some massive binder tucked away on a dusty shelf. The document should be readily available to all its contributors and key stakeholders, yet safe and secure. It should also be easy to edit, with all modifications saved in real-time and throughout the entire plan.
Sound too good to be true? Well, it isn’t. At least not when you use online planning software like that provided by BOLDplanning. Such software walks you through each step of the EOP process, essentially becoming the central resource for plan development, training and ongoing maintenance.
Don’t wait for an actual emergency to find out your EOP is out of date or lacking crucial information about staff, delegations of authority (succession), alternate facilities, equipment, etc. It will be too late. And, working to find the missing pieces is the last thing you need (or want) to be doing when in crisis mode.
Whether your organization is just starting to write its EOP, or contemplating how and when to update it, BOLDplanning can help. Just email info@boldplanning.com or call 615.469.5558 to learn more now. It will be time well spent!
