Japan faces overwhelming need for crisis management
The catastrophic impact of last Friday’s quake and tsunami in Japan shows that even the very best preparation can be overwhelmed by violent and unpredictable events of this magnitude.
Japan has a well-drilled population, strict building regulations and some of the most extensive earthquake planning in the world. But right now the estimates of dead and missing, the nuclear emergency, and the numbers of people in need of basic supplies and sanitation are a reminder that sometimes all a government can do is try to cope.
This is what crisis management is all about. Being able to react with speed and certainty, explaining what you are doing, and making the best use of your strained resources can have a huge impact in the short, medium and long term.
This quote, from a post by Catherine Haddon on the UK’s Institute for Government blog, is the very reason that the old cliche, “expect the unexpected,” exists. In the wake of this staggering crisis, not only the government, but business owners and private citizens are forced to plunge into crisis management mode. When even those who have taken precautions are struggling to keep their heads above water, how do you imagine those who neglected to prepare are faring?
Every time a crisis strikes there is a lesson to be learned – be ready. Whether it’s a natural disaster or a CEO caught in a scandal, having a plan makes a world of difference.
The BCM Blogging Team
https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/