Major disasters provide important learning opportunities. People are motivated by the loss of life to be more receptive to new approaches and strategies for risk reduction in the aftermath of a crisis. In 2008, 321 natural disasters claimed more than 235,000 lives and cost the world an estimated $181 billion (according to The World Bank).

A long-term approach to building disaster resilience is critical, sadly however, disaster risk is often only fully acknowledged following a major event. The disaster recovery period thus provides an opportunity to once again sound the alarm and proselytize for increasing disaster preparedness and risk reduction funding at the federal, state and local levels.

Climate change now compounds the risks for natural disasters, but also provides an opportunity to empower communities to manage that risk. Consider that disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation funding can actually be integrated into relief and recovery budgets. How about an in-depth review of the relevant funding instruments and practices to ensure that those institutions most able to effect change have access to relevant funding  facilitated by local and national governments?

Let’s get serious about risk reduction partnerships and collaboration with practices that engage local government, civil society and NGOs in collective decision-making and tangible strategies to reduce risk and strengthen early warning. Technology MUST be utilized more effectively if we are to achieve enhanced resiliency and risk reduction with the limited funds we are currently willing to allocate.

This fleeting moment needs to be capitalized upon by policymakers, practitioners and the public alike — let’s do it together.

Thankfully there are those who are tackling these thorny questions. In October 2009 the 6th Gaining Ground Summit series attracted 600 people to Vancouver, BC to learn, talk about, and build connections around the theme of “Resilient Cities.”

Check out Mark Holland’s Resilient Cities Manifesto:

“I will open to the pain that I cause in the world through my ignorance and fear and the distance I seem to have from my internal dignity and nobility, and I will feel the pain, shock and injustice of participating in the death of so many, if only by accident — and then I will move past the grief to the restless serenity of my responsibility — to my planet, to my community, to my family, and to myself.”

Games are essential to our human experience and they form a part of every culture.

Defined as structured activities undertaken for fun, games are more and more being used as educational tools. By making aspects of education and work fun through games, attention and retention among participants can be greatly enhanced. The defense industry has understood this for many years — investing heavily in gaming software to enhance soldier training.

Business continuity professionals can now use a new and unique tool to reinvigorate  readiness exercises.

Disaster games can provide the missing link — FUN — to address the often overlooked aspect of business continuity plans — realistic exercises! Through fun but realistic scenarios, your team’s creativity can be applied to quickly identify gaps in your plans so they can be corrected.

Remember: The purpose of a disaster game exercise is NOT to win the game -  but rather to identify weaknesses in your plans and to engage and educate the participants so they are prepared for when the real event happens.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN — BEFORE THE DISASTERS DO!

Other disaster gaming resources can be found here:

www.stopdisastersgame.org
www.incidentcommander.net
And for your kids can too: www.fema.gov/kids/games1

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility and everyone—including businesses, universities and non-profit organizations—has a role to play,” said Napolitano when announcing the proposed standards in October. “Ensuring our private sector partners have the information and training they need to respond to disasters will strengthen our efforts to build a culture of preparedness nationwide.”

DHS proposed PS-Prep standards from three organizations: the National Fire Protection Association, the British Standards Institution and ASIS International. So why not peruse these documents and submit comments and/or recommend additional standards for DHS to consider?

Here’s just one snippet to ponder. In Section 4.3.3 of the ASIS document (“Organizational Resilience: Security Preparedness, and Continuity Management Systems — Requirements and Guidance for Use”), you’ll find a discussion on communication standards that includes:

“With regard to its hazards, threats and risks, and OR management system, the organization shall establish, implement, and maintain (a) procedure (s) for … g) Assuring availability of the means of communication during a crisis situation and disruption.”

What do you think of this? Is there enough meat to it? Should it stipulate that  satellite technologies be an element of a private entity’s emergency preparedness strategies?  When man-made and natural disruptions occur, terrestrial communications infrastructure is indisputably vulnerable. Satellites, floating 30,000 feet above the chaos, can provide peace of mind — with their reliable voice and data connectivity. Governments and militaries around the world have relied on satellite services for years. Why not the private sector? And why not make it a standard?

And should the standards go a step further and define what “communication” actually means in the 21st century? Should it require that voice and data capabilities be assured, given our ubiquitous reliance on email, texting, and various Web 2.0 applications?

As we embark on a new year, let’s stretch ourselves a bit. Let’s think beyond the same-old, same-old. And let’s make sure there are no gray areas when it comes to communications availability. After all, if we can’t connect with others in a time of crisis, how can we  possibly recover?

Please submit your comments to DHS by January 15.

Wishing you peace and preparedness in 2010!

More Information on PS-Prep

DHS PS-Prep Fact Sheet

DHS posted the Federal Register notice at www.regulations.gov.

Submit comments to www.regulations.gov or FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. (Identify Docket ID FEMA-2008–0017).

For more  information, e-mail PrivateSectorPreparedness@hsi.dhs.gov.