Hypothetical Disasters: Could These Happen To You?

In each of the following situations, which have been adapted from actual events, you are the executive on the scene, in charge and you have total responsibility for results. There is no one “right” answer to any of these problems, and the situations address the three (3) types of incidents, caused by: 

1) Natural or cataclysmic events (i.e., earthquakes, fire, floods, storm); 

2) Human behavior (i.e., robbery, bomb threat, arson, hostage event, transportation strike); and 

3) Technological breakdowns (i.e., power outages, computer crash). 

4) Analyze these situations and prioritize your response according to issues likely to affect: 

a) Employees; 

b) Customers; 

c) Facilities; 

d) Assets; and; 

e) Records. 

Your Institution’s Disaster Recovery & Business Resumption Plan

Today’s Test – A Regional Disaster

1) Your Institution has ten branches and ten departments — and employs 100 people

2) Your Institution’s branches are connected by fifty miles of interstate highway

3) Your Institution’s Main Office and Data Center are located in the same building

4) A hurricane sweeps north from the Gulf of Mexico, devastating several counties including

5) Your Institution’s South Region, which sustains the worst damage

a) Only one of your four branches can support basic functions and the hot site that supports your Data Center is operational

b) All other South Region branches and your Main Office building (including the Data Center) are inaccessible or uninhabitable

c) Your Institution’s Central Region sustains moderate damage: 

• Two of your four branches can support basic functions and they remain open 
• All other Central Region branches are closed 
• One lending office is undamaged and remains open 

d) Your Institution’s North Region is undamaged: 

• The two remaining branches can support all branch functions 

e) The results that this disaster create are:

• Structural damage to facilities from wind and flooding 
• Power and landline telecommunication outages from downed power poles 
• Interruption of private and public transportation systems because of road inaccessibility and damage 
• Introduction into Your Institution’s South and Central Regions of the National Guard and martial law 

f) Using the information addressed in this presentation, decide: 

• What impact will this disaster have upon Your Institution’s branches, departments and functions? 

g) What issues will likely arise for Your Institution regarding:

• Employees and their families; 
• Customers and other persons on the premises, including vendors; 
• Facilities; 
• Assets; and 
• Records? 

h)  How should Your Institution allocate its limited resources to: 

• Reduce the impact to the communities that it serves; and 
• Reduce the operational and financial impact to the institution?