Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Resource
  • Published:

Building the human component into contingency plans

Abstract

In the 'who, what, when, where and how' approach to disaster and contingency planning, the 'who' component often receives less attention than it should. It is relatively easy to determine the appropriate amounts of feed and bedding to store for emergencies or how to stage a replacement generator for electricity, whereas planning for the people who will respond to the emergency is more difficult. Understanding the issues involving 'who' designs and implements the contingency plan for disaster response can help facility managers to build a more effective plan, ultimately ensuring faster recovery and long-term success.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. David, F.R. Concepts of Strategic Management 6th edn. (Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  2. USDA APHIS. Final Rule: Handling of Animals; Contingency Plans. Federal Register 77, 76815–76824 (31 December 2012).

  3. 29 CFR Part 825. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

  4. Kales, S.N., Tsismenakis, A.J., Zhang, C. & Soteriades, E.S. Blood pressure in firefighters, police officers, and other emergency responders. Am. J. Hypertens. 22, 11–20 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Goodwin, B.S. & Donaho, J.C. Tropical storm and hurricane recovery and preparedness strategies. ILAR J. 51, 104–119 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. FEMA. National Response Framework 2nd edn. (Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC, 2013). http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1914-25045-1246/final_national_response_framework_20130501.pdf.

  7. Dupepe, L. Laboratory Animal Facilities: What Responders Need to Know. Integrated Training Summit, Nashville, TN, 21–25 May 2012. http://www.integratedtrainingsummit.org/presentations/2006/372.pps.

  8. Hanlon, P. Bombing first responders: seeking counseling more “normative”. New England Psychologist (1 June 2013). http://www.nepsy.com/articles/leading-stories/bombing-first-responders-seeking-counseling-more-normative/.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hughbank, R.J. & Cano, M. The role of counseling in an emergency response recovery plan. (The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, 2012). http://www.aaets.org/article171.htm.

  10. Mitchell, J.T. & Everly, G.S. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: An Operations Manual for CISD, Defusing and Other Group Crisis Intervention Services 3rd edn. (Chevron Publishing Corp, Columbia, MD, 2001).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Donaho.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Donaho, J. Building the human component into contingency plans. Lab Anim 43, 27–32 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.423

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.423

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing