Section IV: Readiness--Rubble, Rehearsal and Resources

CHAPTER LIST

Chapter 15: Reductions, Ruins, and Rubble: When are the Spins From Disasters the Ultimate Spin?

Chapter 16: Rehearsal: Why Plan, Exercise, and Drill for the Unexpected?

Chapter 17: Resources: Do You Have Good Information?

PART OVERVIEW

I hear stories. When I tell people I'm an Emotional Continuity Management consultant they say something like, "Our business survived the tornadoes but a year later we were still shaken up." Or, "If we only would have had a plan and a drill that we could have rehearsed a few times, we might not have been taken by surprise when there was a mass layoff ."

When we were children we had fire drills at school. Some of us had earthquake drills, tsunami, volcano, tornado , and even duck-and-cover- nuclear -attack drills. The bell would ring and out we'd go to our assigned waiting spot. Children do that today. Bomb threats and violence at school has created an increased need for emergency drills.

Most businesses have a little laminated card by the exit with arrows and circles and squares defining the evacuation route in case of a fire. But how do you drill for a Greedy CEO who is sabotaging the company? How do you find your evacuation route away from the lady in the cubicle next to yours who is obviously out of control?

As long as we live on Planet Earth some sort of disaster is right around the corner. It is a fact of life. The news media make disasters look like a surprise! Disaster is normal fare for living. One should expect disaster every day. This doesn't mean you should live in your basement . It does mean that it is intelligent to know where your basement is on the outside chance that you may need to fun to it quickly. To think disasters are out of the norm is denial at best and insanity at worst.

Thinking, planning, preparing and drilling for disasters is not paranoia . Thinking, planning, preparing and drilling for disasters is intelligent. People who feel prepared are happier . They can relax and forget about disaster because they know what to do if one pops up. They can get on with life. Employees who feel prepared are happier. They can relax and forget about disaster because they know what to do if one pops up. They can get on with work.

It is a fact that people who have within their minds the concepts of what might happen during a disaster are statistically less likely to suffer the long-term effects of the disaster. People who avoid the topic are at greater risk for long- term emotional consequences as a result of a disaster.

When hit with a 6.9 earthquake one early morning, there was no time to think about what to do. And I was in no mood to sort out my choices at that moment. I did what I had been practicing and drilling. I followed up with emotional self-care. I had been drilling that also. When in my first (hopefully last) tornado, I was deeply grateful for the people who had drilled for tornadoes because I didn't have a clue what to do... I was in denial and laughed, thinking it was a joke. They were moving quietly and quickly to the basement as I stood like a deer in headlights.

I have rehearsed being neutral during a conflict. If an angry and raging employee verbally attacks me, I don't have time to think about what to do. Their feelings are immediate and I need to have an Emotional Continuity Management skill ready to go.

I have rehearsed really listening to people. If a grieving and weary employee verbally risks sharing with me their tender story, I don't have time to think about what to do. Their need is immediate and I need to have an Emotional Continuity Management skill ready to go.

I have rehearsed and drilled debriefing employees. If something needs ventilation I am ready. I use the tools I teach. They serve me and they serve others well. And I want you to have them all, the ones I offer and anything else you can get to make your life easier!