Emergency Planning

Simplified Cost-Benefit Analysis

As the owner, manager, or representative of your organization, you have taken some steps to prepare your business for an emergency. You have joined the Red Cross Ready Rating™ program and raised awareness of the importance of implementing an effective business continuity program. You may have also completed the Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment. The next step is to prioritize business continuity strategies, which may include completing a simplified cost-benefit analysis.

readyrating2026-02-13T16:32:03+00:00Tags: Emergency Planning|

Ready Rating Implementation Roadmap (SAMPLE)

Review recommendations from the Next Steps Report and prioritize recommendations based on available resources and probable implementation challenges. Refer to the simplified cost-benefit decision-making matrix below to help prioritize activities.

readyrating2026-02-13T16:08:14+00:00Tags: Emergency Planning|

Role of Preparedness Champions

It is highly recommended that your organization assign specific individuals as Preparedness Champions. These individuals are responsible for ensuring that the organization is adequately prepared to deal with emergencies and for supporting emergency response actions. By appointing Preparedness Champions, your organization can ensure that it is always ready to respond to any crisis with a well-coordinated and effective plan.

readyrating2026-02-13T16:54:57+00:00Tags: Emergency Planning|

How To Create Wildfire Defensible Spaces

While preparing your organization for a wildfire, [...]

readyrating2025-12-04T22:08:21+00:00

Household Preparedness

This video points out that during a crisis, especially a wide-scale crisis such as a severe storm, staff may be worried about family members, friends, pets, or important possessions. Having a household plan can reduce this anxiety, help keep people productive, and increases the safety net to those outside of the facility since they are also doing preparedness planning. #52 Staff members are encouraged to have emergency plans for their households.

readyrating2024-08-12T21:43:47+00:00Tags: Business|

Testing Warning Systems

This video contains a quick discussion suggesting how to test this system. For example, send people to all parts of the facility and note when they hear or read something. Include a short mention of social media and texting as alerting mechanisms in this video. #31 We have a tested facility-wide warning system.

readyrating2024-08-12T21:42:47+00:00Tags: Business|

Special Needs Populations

This video discusses being sensitive to various special needs populations and mention that the local fire department can help with this issue. The Americans with Disabilities Act may also provide guidance. #17 Arrangements are in place to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities during an emergency.

readyrating2024-08-12T21:41:51+00:00Tags: Business|

Staffing the Emergency Response Team

This video explains that staff can play two roles on the ERT. Some make on-site decisions while others are volunteers who play a key role in helping with traffic flow and security during a crisis #14 Management has assigned key positions on the emergency response team to staff members.

readyrating2024-06-26T20:37:33+00:00Tags: Business|

Volunteer Recruitment

This video explains the general role of a Safety Warden and that they are part of the ERT. Discuss some of their responsibilities and the need for ongoing training. #16 Volunteers (i.e., Safety Wardens) have been recruited to work with the emergency response team during a crisis.

readyrating2024-08-12T21:31:58+00:00Tags: Business|

Having Sufficient Emergency Support

This video picks up on the points above regarding both safety and firefighting. Highlight the different types of training and point out this same training is also useful in everyday life. #39 At least 10% of our staff has received emergency medical training (e.g., CPR, AED, 1st Aid, protection against blood-borne pathogens, etc.).

readyrating2024-08-12T21:18:28+00:00Tags: Business|