IGEM Report 1: 2017-18 - THE CYCLONE DEBBIE REVIEW

The Cyclone Debbie Review

Business Continuity Planning (BCP) In the same way that the sector seeks to build community resilience, BCP can mitigate the impact of disasters by building business and organisational resilience. The Standard emphasises the need for comprehensive BCP:

Themes

“approved plans address all phases of disaster management, including continuity of operations and entities’ essential services.”

Business Queensland already provides sound guidance about BCP, and refers to the prevention, preparation, response and recovery risk management model of emergency management agencies as a guide for responding to disasters. 91

Debbie highlighted visible gaps in business continuity. For example, when businesses were advised to close in the south east, at least one council lost its ability to get disaster supplies from its usual stockist. Queensland Health found that its business continuity would be improved by technology to remotely attend disaster management group meetings, as decision- makers in regions frequently could not leave their health-care facility. Queensland Health has also identified that BCP needs to consider supply chains, and the numbers and skills of frontline staff required to ensure functioning of critical services. The advice at 8.33am on Thursday 30 March for departments to enact their BCPs and for all non-essential services staff to have flexible work arrangements, including working from home, caused confusion among some departmental staff. Business continuity should also consider the clear links between Queensland Government agencies and business. A culture of trust and sharing of information must be developed. In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) places significant emphasis on BCP:

“Continuity is more than just a good business practice that needs to be incorporated into day-to-day planning; it is a key foundation to how a community can work together to reduce vulnerabilities and recover from an incident.” 92

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6 THEMES

The Queensland Betterment Fund • Business Continuity Planning