Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Businesses | Dallas TX
The 20-Question Preparedness Test
Answer each question YES, NO, or UNSURE.
Emergency Planning
Does your organization have a current written emergency action plan?
Has the plan been reviewed within the last year?
Does the plan clearly identify who has authority during an emergency?
Does the plan address workplace violence and active threats?
Communications
Can your organization rapidly notify employees of an emergency?
Do employees know what different emergency notifications mean?
Can leadership communicate if normal communication systems fail?
Physical Security
Do you know who can enter your facility?
Are exterior doors, locks, and access-control procedures regularly evaluated?
Are visitors appropriately managed?
Have your building's security vulnerabilities been professionally evaluated?
Employees
Do employees know how to report concerning behavior?
Have employees received workplace violence or active-threat training?
Do employees understand evacuation and lockdown options?
Do employees know more than one way to exit their normal work area?
Leadership
Has leadership participated in an emergency tabletop exercise?
Does leadership know how it will coordinate with first responders?
Does your organization have an employee or visitor accountability procedure?
Have you planned for reunification or business continuity following a major incident?
Testing
Has your organization actually tested whether its emergency plan works?
How Did You Score?
17–20 YES answers: Your organization appears to have several important preparedness components in place. Continue testing and improving them.
12–16 YES answers: Your organization may have a foundation, but several areas deserve closer evaluation.
Fewer than 12 YES answers: A comprehensive review of your emergency preparedness program may be appropriate.
An UNSURE answer deserves attention too.
Leadership cannot rely on an emergency procedure it does not know exists.
Preparedness Is a Process
No organization can eliminate every risk.
The objective of emergency preparedness is to identify reasonable risks, reduce vulnerabilities, prepare employees, and create systems that help people make better decisions when emergencies occur.
