As an emergency planner, two things probably come to mind when you think about next year’s budget. First, how to further improve emergency preparedness across your organization. And, second, just how much money it’s going to take to support such improvements. These improvements may include acquiring new tools or software, consulting with subject matter experts, or conducting all-important training and exercises, among other things.

To help you with your preparedness planning as well as your budget planning, consider the following actions:

  • Take every opportunity to emphasize the need for improved emergency preparedness, especially to your organization’s leadership. Executive buy-in is crucial to budget acceptance.
  • Ask for more than you expect to receive. Budget requests, as you know all too well, rarely come back with 100% approval. Just be prepared to work with less (as always).
  • Be as specific as you can with your budget planning. Explain in detail the products, services, or program enhancements you want to implement as well as the value they bring to your organization. Cost-justification is crucial given today’s limited budgets.
  • Stress the importance of exercising your organization’s emergency preparedness plans annually.  Outside an actual emergency or business disruption, it’s the only real way of knowing just how prepared it actually is. In fact, it’s a good idea to make it line item number one on your budget request.  

Best of luck to you as you noodle on the numbers and work to improve your organization’s preparedness in the year ahead!