This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
RENEE MURPHY
Private sector/critical infrastructure liaison, Utah Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security
Utah is one of only three states, along with Virginia and New York, to have a homeland security/private sector liaison. What, exactly, are your duties?
My job is to improve outreach and training to the business community concerning emergency preparedness and planning. I spend most of my time speaking to chambers of commerce, Rotary clubs and trade and manufacturing associations across the state to educate them about the importance of business continuity planning and how to conduct their own risk or vulnerability assessments.
Homeland Security isn't only about terrorists and suicide bombers - it includes the security of all our homeland interests, from protecting life to the stability of our economy during any potential hazard.
What is a business continuity plan and why do companies need one?
We think about putting emergency contact numbers for doctors, hospital and police on the refrigerator for our families, but don't always think about providing our employees with information like the company's insurance agent, CPA or property manager. If the "key" people in an organization are not available, who is in charge or would know what to do?
A business continuity plan gets those and other details down on paper and identifies what actions are necessary to increase the probability a company could remain open after a disaster.
As to why companies need one, consider these statistics: Currently, 47 percent of businesses that experience a fire or major theft go out of business within two years. More than 50 percent cannot recover if they have an interruption of cash flow for more than 10 days, and 44 percent of businesses that lose their data records in a disaster never resume business.
How prepared are Utah businesses to deal with an emergency or disaster?
The LDS culture in our state has helped many Utahns understand the importance of 72-hour kits and food storage. Larger companies, especially those that are required to meet regulatory standards, have emergency and evacuation plans. We find that smaller businesses typically haven't thought about what would happen if a disaster occurred between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. It's possible that during business hours we may experience a flood or earthquake. The incident may require employees to stay inside until the threat of downed power lines or a chemical release has passed. Many unexpected events could easily cripple a business that hasn't considered issues such as succession, insurance coverage and critical data storage location.
What kind of preparedness training/information is available to Utah businesses and how do they access it?
Any business group, trade organization or association, including nonprofits, may contact me to schedule a preparedness presentation. I bring sample plans, templates and toolkit suggestions to get them started. The Web site http://www.ready.gov also provides preparedness tips and information as well as a sample plan for businesses. The SBA and Red Cross have also developed toolkits for continuity planning. The Utah Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security also has some training available and will announce additional training resources and programs as they develop. Class descriptions and registration information can be found at http://www.des.utah.gov.