Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
September 11, 2001
Private-Sector Preparedness
The mandate of the Department of Homeland Security does not end with gov-
ernment; the department is also responsible for working with the private sector
to ensure preparedness. This is entirely appropriate, for the private sector controls
85% of the critical infrastructure in the nation. Indeed, unless a terrorist's target is
a military or other secure government facility, the “first” first responders will almost
certainly be civilians. Homeland security and national preparedness therefore often
begins with the private sector.
Preparedness in the private sector and public sector for rescue, restart, and
recovery of operations should include (1) a plan for evacuation, (2) adequate com-
munications capabilities, and (3) a plan for continuity of operations. As we exam-
ined the emergency response to 9/11, witness after witness told us that despite 9/11,
the private sector remains largely unprepared for a terrorist attack. We were also
advised that the lack of a widely embraced private-sector preparedness standard was
a principal contributing factor to this lack of preparedness.
We responded by asking the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
to develop a consensus on a “National Standard for Preparedness” for the private
sector. ANSI convened safety, security, and business continuity experts from a wide
range of industries and associations, as well as from federal, state, and local govern-
ment stakeholders, to consider the need for standards for private sector emergency
preparedness and business continuity.
The result of these sessions was ANSI's recommendation that the Commission
endorse a voluntary National Preparedness Standard. Based on the existing
American National Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business
Continuity Programs (NFPA 1600), the proposed National Preparedness Standard
establishes a common set of criteria and terminology for preparedness, disaster
management, emergency management, and business continuity programs. The
experience of the private sector in the World Trade Center emergency demonstrated
the need for these standards (Figure 7.1).
Recommendation: We endorse the ANSI's recommended standard for private
preparedness. We were encouraged by Secretary Tom Ridge's praise of the stand-
ard, and urge the Department of Homeland Security to promote its adoption.
We also encourage the insurance and credit-rating industries to look closely at a
company's compliance with the ANSI standard in assessing its insurability and
creditworthiness. We believe that compliance with the standard should define the
standard of care owed by a company to its employees and the public for legal pur-
poses. Private-sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in
the post-9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money,
and national security.
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