How CRE’s Help Organizations Prepare for Crisis Scenarios

Crisis response exercises (CREs) help organizations evaluate emergency response procedures, identify areas for improvement, and foster a collaborative attitude among those responsible for supporting their travelers abroad. Regularly engaging in these exercises is invaluable in helping to create a safe and supportive environment for your travelers.

Crisis response exercises (CREs) can simulate a wide variety of scenarios, depending on the specific risks your organization faces and the nature of your travelers’ activities. The possibilities are virtually limitless, allowing you to tailor exercises to the unique challenges of your operations. To help spark ideas for how CREs could be implemented in your own organization, we’ll explore three sample scenarios that illustrate the types of situations that could be tested. These examples serve as a starting point, but the real value of CREs lies in their flexibility to address the specific risks and needs of your organization.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters can present unique challenges depending on their severity and location, especially for travelers. While full-scale simulations may not always be practical, a CRE allows participants to be effectively prepared by walking them through the impacts of natural disasters and the steps involved in evacuation. Participants can test their knowledge and preparedness without having to engage in a full evacuation. It’s important not only to inform travelers about evacuation procedures but also to clarify the roles of stakeholders in ensuring their safety. Natural disasters can disrupt travel and transportation, making it crucial to review how logistics may be affected, while also helping to manage expectations. For groups traveling to areas prone to specific types of natural disasters, reviewing local protocols during a CRE can also help ensure a more practical, well-informed response.

High-Stake Travel Situations

Many organizations, especially NGOs, operate in areas where the risk of crimes like abduction is high. These incidents can vary greatly, with hostages held anywhere from a few hours to several months or longer. Given the unpredictable nature of such events, it’s difficult to fully prepare individuals for the complexities of long-term captivity. CREs for this scenario acknowledge that those responding to the crisis and the affected individuals themselves have different needs for information and guidance. Effective communication during such situations is critical, and CREs help enhance preparedness for coordinating with local authorities, partner organizations, and other third parties involved in supporting those affected by these incidents.

Armed Assailant Scenarios

For incidents involving an armed assailant, crisis response exercises (CREs) offer a way to test preparedness without the need for an elaborate, full-scale drill. Conducting an in-person, full-scale drill can be both inefficient and costly, often requiring the temporary closure of the building and suspension of office operations. In contrast, a CRE can be tailored organization-wide, department-specific, or at the individual level, addressing the unique responsibilities of each while still testing all aspects of the response plan. Because such events are rare, many individuals may have limited situational awareness despite prior training. A CRE of this nature helps assess this awareness and highlights areas where response plans or individual preparedness may need improvement.

The Importance of Consistency

Given the many individuals and departments involved in responding to emergencies both domestically and overseas, CREs enable key personnel to be effectively briefed on their roles without the need for an impractical full-scale simulation. After conducting CREs, organizations gain valuable data and feedback to assess the effectiveness of their emergency response plans and identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, the importance of regularly conducting CREs, especially for those overseeing or part of an organization’s crisis management team, cannot be overstated. Routine practice through defined CREs ensures organizations remain prepared and continuously assess their exposure and ability to respond to emergencies.

About On Call International:
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a common accident such as a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.