In most professions, personnel safety is the highest priority. Reasons that come to my mind are that people are unique and not replaceable. On the other hand, we can always purchase a new computer or other widget. We usually have an emotional attachment to our co-workers, colleagues, friends and family. The loss of one of our companions or family members is devastating and can impact the way our mind functions for a very long time.
The reason I mention this is I have a story of a flawed disaster plan. A few years ago, I retired from the United States Air Force. I was an explosives handler and worked in an explosives storage area. Specifically I was a Munitions Controller. In the event of an incident that required evacuation such as a fire, we had a response plan. We were required by the Department of the Air Force to have a disaster response plan.
The plan was that during an evacuation, one Controller would stay behind in the control room to coordinate disaster response actions while the rest of the Controllers moved to the alternate control room. Once the Controller that had been left behind had word that the alternate Control was operating, he or she could then evacuate to the alternate site. I was not fond of this plan because one person was left behind while everyone else had safely evacuated.
A year or two later, management changed and I was the person in charge of Munitions Control. During a meeting my boss had asked me what we could improve. I mentioned that it was not safe for the person left behind during an evacuation and someone could die needlessly. Specifically, I told him that I thought the plan was stupid. Another member of the team pointed out that the squadron had cell phones that were not being used but being paid for. An additional line was cheap and we could coordinate disaster response efforts on the move with a cell phone.
I was pleased that one member of the team had seen a solution to the dilemma. My boss got executive approval and we had our evacuation cell phone. Later, the Major Command we were subordinate to directed that Munitions Control and other command and control facilities be geographically separated from the explosives storage area. We moved and set up the new control room.
We had to rebuild our disaster response plan because our location had changed. We made an agreement with another command and control facility to set up as an alternate location. Other than that, operations ran very smoothly and morale was much higher. I suspect that it may have been because the job could be done much more efficiently.
The reason I mention this is I have a story of a flawed disaster plan. A few years ago, I retired from the United States Air Force. I was an explosives handler and worked in an explosives storage area. Specifically I was a Munitions Controller. In the event of an incident that required evacuation such as a fire, we had a response plan. We were required by the Department of the Air Force to have a disaster response plan.
The plan was that during an evacuation, one Controller would stay behind in the control room to coordinate disaster response actions while the rest of the Controllers moved to the alternate control room. Once the Controller that had been left behind had word that the alternate Control was operating, he or she could then evacuate to the alternate site. I was not fond of this plan because one person was left behind while everyone else had safely evacuated.
A year or two later, management changed and I was the person in charge of Munitions Control. During a meeting my boss had asked me what we could improve. I mentioned that it was not safe for the person left behind during an evacuation and someone could die needlessly. Specifically, I told him that I thought the plan was stupid. Another member of the team pointed out that the squadron had cell phones that were not being used but being paid for. An additional line was cheap and we could coordinate disaster response efforts on the move with a cell phone.
I was pleased that one member of the team had seen a solution to the dilemma. My boss got executive approval and we had our evacuation cell phone. Later, the Major Command we were subordinate to directed that Munitions Control and other command and control facilities be geographically separated from the explosives storage area. We moved and set up the new control room.
We had to rebuild our disaster response plan because our location had changed. We made an agreement with another command and control facility to set up as an alternate location. Other than that, operations ran very smoothly and morale was much higher. I suspect that it may have been because the job could be done much more efficiently.
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