Glossary of Threats

Fires: Fires can start in countless ways - an electrical short, a smoldering cigarette, an open flame, a gas explosion, arson - and the results can be devastating. Fire has the potential, if not detected early enough, to destroy records and equipment, cause human injury or death, result in smoke damage, or completely burn a facility. Fire is a universal threat. Fire will often piggyback other disasters. These compound crises are even more dangerous and difficult to fight since critical infrastructure may have been damaged as well.

Flooding: Floods are caused by heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms, or snow thaws that create an overflow of water from rivers and other bodies of water. Flash floods, however, can develop within minutes and are caused by dam failures or large storms occurring over a short period of time. Both types of floods can destroy buildings and equipment, cause water damage to structure and contents, result in power failures, damaged roadways, and cause human injury or death.

Human Factor: The human factor of a disaster recovery plan is uniquely vulnerable in that humans, unlike computers and equipment, have unique, individual responses to disaster situations. That makes human error during crisis response and subsequent recovery one of the most challenging threats for which to prepare. Prominent post-disaster cognitive responses include disorganization and sluggishness in thinking and decision-making, confusion/uncertainty, lack of awareness of immediate events, decreased concentration, racing thoughts, hyper vigilance, exaggerated startle response, narrowing of attention, and inability to delimit attention. Emotional responses involve intense feelings including fear, rage, depression/sadness, euphoria, panic, reckless sense of invulnerability, and generalized anxiety or feelings of despair. Reactions can range from emotional outbursts to simple inability to feel at all. Any one or combination of these reactions put employees at risk of jeopardizing their health and safety or your business' potential recovery.