Posted on 08/09/2008 7:01:10 PM PDT by Ronin
In my new job I have just been handed the task of putting together a disaster readiness plan that addresses everything from building evacuation, first aid, logistics, and everything else.
I got the job because for my sins, I am the only veteran in the company, and I was just a squid.
If anyone else out there has experience in this sort of thing, I would appreciate some help. I have to have something on paper by 0900 tomorrow morning.
The good news is I have (within reason) a blank check as to how to put it together and purchasing necessary supplies.
First response: figure out to evacuate the building. No elevators...what floors...can people jump to any other structure. Are there ladders people can use to climb down. Five floors is high, but not that high.
We were always given a gathering point so people would not have to waste time searching for people in the building. A checklist of all employees or people liable to be in the building.
Second: have fire extinguishers on hand.
Third: Have really decent first-aid on hand.
The first priority I see is survival. Which means that in Tokyo’s earthquake intensive environment, I have to get the people serious about getting their butts under their desks at the first sign of a quake. That’s going to be hard because Japanese and gaijin in Japan have become somewhat indifferent to the odd tremblor that rolls through the area.
The problem is, you never know how serious a quake is going to be until it’s over, and if they don’t get under the desk or take action immediately, it’s too late.
Shinjuku Gyoen park is two blocks away. If we can get there, fine, if not, we are going to have to camp out on the temple grounds — if the building is not structurally sound, that is. The problem is going to be protecting the assets we put together from people who have not prepared anything.
All the Nathan’s are shut down, alas. But COSTCO has Bryans Hot Dogs. The big puppies. Great stuff. I snarfed down four over the last two days.
I’m from the West Coast so I don’t know much about cheese steaks.
http://www.cert-la.com/EmergPrepBooklet.pdf
I think you want people away from the windows in a high rise...
All of that is good, except the firearms part. This is Japan and no guns (or very few) are in private hands. However, stun rods and pepper spray might be possible. Along with plastic ties for emergency handcuffs.
At home, I have a four-cell maglite and a fireax under my bed. My own personal protection plan has three exits from the third story building worked out. I also have first aid supplies, 10 kg of rice, a case of refried beans and 40 liters of water on hand.
"NFPA 1600: Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs."
That’s too bad. I’ll have to look around more, I guess. Btw, I’m from the west coast too, but my dad’s from Philly so I’ve got cheesesteaks in my blood.
Also, depending on which side of Shinjuku-gyoen you’re on, there’s a few stadiums and ballfields near by that might be a good evacuation spot.
It’s “temblor” NOT “tremblor.” Would hate to have somebody search on the wrong word.
I just read a book called The Unthinkable that you might be interested in.
I would guess that your work emergency plan would be to get everyone out of the building and to their homes to check loved ones. In a natural disaster, no one is going to want to hang around work. Make sure everyone has good walking shoes in case there is no transportation available.
Also, consider getting portable radios with a decent range because phones could be out or the circuits overloaded, maybe one that could communicate on a police frequency. A battery powered scanner tuned to police and fire department freqs would be nice to get some real info.
I am overcome with remorse and shame and shall lash myself severely with wet noodles at the earliest opportunity.
You must have authority to have your fellow employees practice getting out of the building etc. - - you'll need the backing of upper management. In a panic filled situation, you want as many people on automatic as possible. If they haven't practiced a plan - if it's just an intellectual abstraction, it'll be harder.
Believe it or not, we are stuck right in the middle of Ni-Chome. Great place for lunch, but you can bet I get out of the area as fast as I can when working hours is over.
On the good side, Marunouchi line runs right under the building, so that I think has a stabilizing effect. On the bad side, the subways will definitely be out, and a lot of people are simply going to freak.
Keeping the airheads under control is going to be a problem, but on the other hand, they’re free citizens. If they want to freak out and try to get home, I can’t stop them. I will, however, be responsible for anyone who wants to stay with the company group.
The boss has promised me that. He’s already been laying in a bunch of supplies, but they are all jumbled together in the supply room. This is something he has wanted to do himself, but is just too busy to handle. He gave it to me because I am a military vet and he thinks that vets walk on water.
bookmark
Also, you DO have all your company’s computer data stored off site in a secure location, don’t you?
You’re in Shinjuku-nichoume ... what kind of gaijin owned business is this? Just kidding!
In that case, Shinjuku-gyoen seems like a very good spot for evacuations. The only problems being that it’s a little ways to walk, and that admission is 300 yen per person.
Ping
[PDF]
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML In the USA, there are FEMA and SBA (federal dept of Small Business Administration) prorgams in place to assist poor saps such as yourself who are coming into disaster preparedness without a background in contingency management.
development and implementation of your own Disaster Plan. HELPFUL AGENCIES ... FEMA TELE-REGISTRATION HOT LINE. 1-800-621-FEMA. SOUTHAMPTON TOWN ...
www.town.southampton.ny.us/DeptDirectorygallery/emergency_prep/business_emergency.pdf -
Having put these to paper for companies, universities and small cities, I can tell you that there is no way one inexperienced person can slap this together by 0900 tomorrow even for a small company. It will be impossible to cut and paste from other sources anything complete enough that will be usable for your specific facilities. I also don’t see how you can cover all the potential disaster scenarios in the time allowed. Each one needs a different SOP. You make it sound like there is only one SOP, but that is not the case. Sounds like the bosses gave you a task that they know you will fail at. I would work toward a very complete outline for each potential disaster and an overall budget, then ask for more time to flesh out the details. A disaster plan for a small company can run upwards of several hundred pages for an industrial facility or one that has biohazardous material on site.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.