Security Management Report: Hurricane Katrina and Business Continuity

This report analyzes security management in the context of a natural disaster, specifically using Hurricane Katrina as a case study. It emphasizes the critical role of security managers in mitigating risks and ensuring business continuity, particularly within a bioengineering manufacturing unit. The report details the steps required for disaster preparedness, including employee evacuation, vulnerability assessment, and asset protection. It highlights the importance of establishing rescue teams, coordinating with local authorities, and restoring essential data and business processes. Furthermore, it stresses the need for reviewing insurance policies and fostering effective communication among stakeholders. The report underscores the significance of staff involvement, communication strategies, and a comprehensive vulnerability assessment to safeguard the organization's assets and ensure a swift recovery from a crisis.

Running head: SECURITY MANAGEMENT
Security Management
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A security manager is one who has to take up the responsibility of providing the safety
and the security during any urgent disaster. Disaster can be both manmade and natural.
However, the natural disasters are very sudden and it destroys a huge amount of life and
property. It is for this reason that the security managers have to be appointed for mitigating these
risks (Bhatt, Manadhata & Zomlot, 2014). They have to be very well versed with all the method
in which they can provide a complete security to the likely damages to the assets and the people
during any unforeseen and sudden natural disaster.
So it can happen that there are some natural disasters like the hurricane Katrina that breaks out
suddenly (Fennelly, 2016).
As it is a heavy industrial manufacturing unit there will be a large scale disruption caused
by the manufacturing procedures. There will also be a great damage caused to the products. The
company mainly deals in the manufacturing of the bioengineered products like the medicines, the
critical and emergency care units. It also produces the artificial limbs and the organs for being
used in the hospitals. So it is really one of the very sensitive units that deal with the
manufacturing of units that are connected with the life of human beings (Paton & Johnston,
2017). So as there is such a huge storm like the Hurricane Katrina it is likely to cause a huge
harm. There are also a large number of members who had been working in the unit during the
time of the storm. However there was a kind of prediction, but not all the workers listened to it r
could manage to evaluate the place before the storm strikes. Even though some of them did, but
there was naturally a huge damaged caused to the manufacturing devices and the products.
The step that has to be taken is to appoint a rescue team and get all the employees out of
the company. This is indeed is a very tough job as there are about 4000 employees in the

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organization and it is really tough to locate the current position of the employee within the
organization. After the storm has passed, the prime duty is to gather the local people who will be
helping the evacuation process.
The first thing is to analyze and make a list of those objects that are most vulnerable due
to this disaster. As this is a bioengineering unit the most vulnerable are the employees who were
working with the sharp implements or with any objects with the application of fire. As there was
a huge storm, there is a chance of a huge fire. This is because the fire can give rise to the supply
of oxygen and a huge fire may break out. So another smart step would be to include the
firefighting people. A microphone and walkie talky must be kept with each individual who part
of the rescue team is. The huge storm will also cut out the electricity supply and this will cause a
huge problem. There will be the problem of dust and darkness all around so locating and taking
out the employees from the building is indeed a very big problem.
There has to be an ambulance arranged along with the presence of the Red Cross and the
other medical teams so that they can provide the apt and the timely medical help. After the
situation is under a bit control next comes the planning for protecting the assets. The first thing
that has to be checked is which parts of the organization are most crucial to damage. As it
produces products that are bioengineered, there will be huge effects. This is a natural calamity
and the raw materials needed to produce these products will not be available in plenty (Ahmad,
Maynard & Park, 2014). They will also have to properly communicate with the clients who order
for the bioengineered products. They will have to resume the service and the business relations
by properly communicating with the other business partners.

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The damage will be caused in all the three branches that are located in and around San
Diego so they can end about 100 vehicles to each of the locations for the evacuation process. The
even distribution of the vehicles will ensure that there is no shortage of vehicles and all of them
can be used for the rescue process. The assets like the manufacturing products, the, and the
products must be checked properly so that the amount of damage is found out. The building will
also be damaged after such a huge storm, so the security manager will have to start looking for a
place to set up the new factory and to resume the production process.
The staffs will also to play a very important role in this process. One staff can be
appointed as the leader of the rescue team. Someone must be appointed as his assistant or his
alternative. They will be leading different teams for managing the work after the hurricane
(Graham, Avery & Park, 2015). They will be helping in measuring the amount of damage that
has been caused to the assets and property. For an instance, the staffs will be evaluating the
amount of damage that has been caused by the tools and the implements. They can also help in
setting up the new offices at some other properties (Hsu et al., 2015). This will also require doing
an extensive calculation of the amount of money that is present in the account and how it can be
used for repairing and replacing the office. The staff members will also help in dealing with the
injured employees and in carrying them to and from the hospitals. If one of the staff is not having
a particular kind of expertise then the other will do this. They will also help with communication.
Communication is one of the most important things that have to be done in this situation. A
sound communication is needed at this point in time. They will also help in distributing
medicines, food packets among the victims or the employees of the company ( Sennewald &
Baillie, 2015).

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There has to be a thorough vulnerability test that needs to be conducted
Taking an active role
The vulnerability test can be carried on properly once all the officials are actively taking
part in it. They also have to actively engage in the screening process. This will help them to get
an idea about the different resources and the different stakeholders of the company. This will
help them solve the issue in a proper way. They will have to see the kinds of stakeholders
involved with the company, the policies and the insurances that are present with the employees
of the other three branches.
Finding out the data that underlie the business process
The aftermaths of the hurricane will have many issues and one among them is the loss of
the essential data. They will have to go into a joint collaboration with the IT department and
make sure that they are able to restore all the data (Marable & Clarke, 2016). This will help in
getting the data of the goods that have been damaged.
Reviewing the insurances and the policies
This is one of the most important steps that must be undertaken. This will help in
reviewing the policies so that in case of an emergency, the employees can be treated properly.
Prevention will always be better than cure and this will be very helpful.
So, it can be concluded that the security officers and the staffs are of great importance in
order to mitigate a risk. They will have o control the after-effects of the disaster and will have to
take the necessary actions that will help in continuing the business.

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References
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Paton, D., & Johnston, D. (2017). Disaster resilience: an integrated approach. Charles C
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