Is Terrorism A Threat To A Business Like Yours

Is Terrorism A Threat To A Business Like Yours?No business regardless of size, type and location should assume it is immune from terrorist acts. As terrorism evolves, terrorists are becoming more sophisticated and better funded and are more likely to use weapons of mass destruction. The reach of terrorist acts and the devastation they can create will almost certainly take on horrifyingly new dimensions.
Businesses need not be primary targets to be victimized. In fact, a substantial percentage of the businesses impacted by the World Trade Center attacks were small businesses that hardly would have considered themselves terrorist targets. Many were collateral victims who just happened to be located in the vicinity of the Center. And, as we have seen, the ripple effects caused by terrorist acts can have dramatic and far reaching effects on the economy as a whole, on consumerism, on specific industries (like tourism, insurance, and transportation) and on business practices and performance in general. 9-11, no doubt, accelerated the failure of many already fragile businesses around the country and significantly contributed to the nation's business downturn. As the country turned its attention to responding to the attack and strengthening its homeland security, significant amounts of public and private money has been redirected away from "business as usual." Air travel halted, consumer spending fell, businesses reduced investment and companies announced massive layoffs.Obviously it is unproductive to become paranoid about the threat of terrorism... but, at the same time, it is unwise to become blasé. As time passes, we tend to forget and hope to resume life as normal. Unfortunately, the acts of terrorism may have redefined the boundaries of normalcy forever. Assessing Your Organization's Risk and VulnerabilityHow attractive is your business as a target of terrorism or workplace violence? Here are some questions you should be asking yourself:

• Are you a high profile operation or do you have high profile employees or representatives that could be singled out by terrorists to make a statement?
• Are there domestic or international individuals or groups that are vehemently opposed to your line of business your organization performs?
• Are you co-located with, near to, or doing business with, other businesses, organizations or physical structures that might be targeted by terrorists?
• Are there characteristics of your business or workforce that could be used as an excuse for hate crimes?
• Do you do business with organizations or segments of the population that could serve as an excuse for hate crimes?
• Are there any characteristics of your business, facility, location, products, services, practices or personnel that might make you a potential target?
• Has your organization had to make organizational or personnel decisions that could be rationalized as an excuse for workplace violence?
• Do you have customers, suppliers or vendors who could be attractive targets to terrorists?
• Has your organization received previous threats of violence or intimidation?
• How vulnerable is your business to a terrorist attack, and are there practical, affordable measures you can take to mitigate your vulnerability? Somethings to consider in each of the following areas:
  • Location
  • Accessibility
  • Security
  • Type of structure
  • On-site population monitoring and control (employees, customers, visitors)
  • Resources for prevention, response and recovery
  • Do you have Terrorism insurance potection.

Assessing What Resources You Can And Are Willing To Devote To Terrorism Preparedness:

• The 9-11 attacks have prompted a range of responses from the business community... some measured, some perhaps extreme.
• You need to consider what resources you can reasonably mobilize to deal with threats posed by terrorism.
• Instead of attempting to deal with terrorism as a unique and different hazard in your disaster plan, it may make more sense to focus on the issues of business survival and continuity common with other disaster types.
• Keep Things In Perspective

Preparedness Measures You Might Consider:

• Preventive measures
• Procedures for dealing with terrorist threats
• Day to day precautionary measures
  • Immediate response to an act of terrorism
  • A time for quick decisions
  • Personnel and visitor safety
  • Assist victims or not
  • Evacuation procedures
  • Preserving the crime scene
  • Calling for professional help
  • Helping first responders - do's and don'ts
• Establishing a safe temporary holding area
• Employee release decision criteria and instructions