Amanda Ripley Author of The Unthinkable

Joe Guerra said on April 15, 2009 at 3:47 am

Amanda,

I would like to add the myth “Fire drills are a joke”.  The problem with this myth is there is valid reason supporting the cynicism about the manner in which office evacuation drills are conducted.  If properly developed, like any other mandatory training, evacuation drills can be the greatest thing since apple pie and slice bread.

My experience through safety trainings I have facilitated has been effective evacuation drills are most often a result and function of proper planning, Evacuation drills are cool for the following reasons:

1.  Evacuations are a “doing” event.  Evacuations are a physical activity, if nothing else, to get the blood pumping.  Conceptual safety training in a controlled classroom setting only goes so far.  The best training is the kind where you get to just do it.

2.  There is no substitute like the experience of a an adreniline rush that comes with safely evacuating the office in the shortest period of time, to a pre-designated assembly area, in a coordinated manner .  Drills can be fun.  One gets the immediate gratification that follows in the wake of a successfully executed drill.  Everybody gets a gold medal and earns the right to do a ceremonial high-five at the conclusion of a properly executed evacuation drill.

3.  Drills as a team building event, when executed properly, allow individuals to contribute to the success of the organization.  In an properly planned evacuation drill, genuine sand-table conditions for team success can be designed when executing the “battle drill.”.  In a properly planned evacuation drill every person has an important role and ultimately has ownership in the outcomes that result.  It makes no difference whether you’re the drill planner, the floor captain, or the individual staff member. 

4.  Through the education value gained from safety training, evacuation drills serve as a tool to empower both the organization and the individuals that make up that organization.  Both the workers and the management team that supervise those workers have a better sense what their degree of safety preparedness means for trigger events requiring an evacuation.  The safety preparedness tools they discover while at their worksite can also be be applied to the home setting where the safefy of family members is involved. 

Who says evacuation drills have to be boring, a mockery, or an excuse to get out of work for a few minutes?  Cynics may have valid reason for dismissing the value spent on many attempts at poorly planned evacuation training events.  However, even the most cynnical will be immediately converted if they have a demonstration on what a quality evacuation training event looks like.

The venues where evacuation drills can be executed is unlimited and goe beyond the traditional office worksite.  The premium for evacuation contingency planning cannot be overstated given the need for humans to gather either for work or for play.  Beyond the worksite, evacuation awareness also matters in situations involving large gathering of persons whether at the theater, a hospital, an outdoor concert, or within a college dormitory. 

Properly executed evacuation drills make all the difference, especially when precious seconds will dictate whether lives are saved or lost. An imperitive for quality evacuation response training must continue and be fostered.  We as emergency planners can make safety training and awareness both a common sense as well as an engaging activity.  Evacuation drills now, more than ever, are relevant and do matter.

Joe Guerra, Entropia Disaster Planning, Beaverton OR.

Amanda Ripley said on April 15, 2009 at 11:20 am

Joe,

Well said! The quest to make fire drills cool is a noble one indeed. I totally agree that they can be revolutionized with a little creativity. And you’re right that the reason so many drills are ignored is because so many of them have been done so poorly for so long--led by bureaucrats, lawyers and office drones.

Hell, I may do a drill today just in honor of your comment. Thanks.

Amanda

Joe Guerra said on April 15, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Amanda,

I’m grateful to know there are persons like yourself, Stephen Flynn, and the multiple other authorities you cited who contributed to the writing of “The Thinkable.” Advancing the cause of disaster preparedness awareness makes a positive difference while serving the greater good through education and empowerment.  To quote Bill McMahon of Morgan Stanley, “One thing you don’t ever want to do is have to think in a disaster.” (pg 208)

Mr. McMahon’s astute observation on the value of automatic response through training is a common thread you effectively hi-lighted throughout “The Unthinkable.” Although disaster response is serious business, I appreciate your humour in describing “the obstacles” that impede a more accelerated projectory and elevated priority for evacuation drill contigency planning. 

“The Thinkable” is well researched, highly engaging, and a worthwhile contribution to the body knowledge.  As an authoritative work on disaster response,"Unthinkable" has the distinction of being the centerpiece of my home library.  “Unthinkable” has also prompted me to expand the discussion of disaster psychology within my training curiculumn when training organization emergency response teams.

Reading your blog is an effective use of my time.  Congradulations on an outstanding narrative and educational product.  I wish you continued success on the important subject matter of emergency response.  Sincerely, Joe

PS:  The world will come to know about a wonderful soul named Rick Rescorla.  His humanity and spirit as a reminder of what is right in the world is now and forever preserved. Thank you for letting us know about the legacy of Mr. Rescorla.

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Edward Minyard said on April 21, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Amanda -

Your book, The Unthinkable, was simply outstanding.  As a veteran of one war and several disasters (you and I probably got our shots in the same place after Katrina ( Harrah’s portico)), I felt compelled to leave this comment.

Another “myth” for the list is that one that says “We’ve learned from our mistakes”. 

After Katrina, my team and I were instrumental in the development of the New Orleans City Assisted Evacuation Plan (CAEP), post-Katrina.  We wrote it, then tested it in a live exercise called “Hurricane Alicia” in 2006.  The plan executed successfully, but only through the application of liberal amounts of brute force. We pointed out the issues we encountered, expecting things to be improved.

Last year, after the passage of three full years, my team and I were back in NOLA to assist the City Government with the expected catastrophy of Hurricane Gustav.  As we worked with the City, both in the EOC and at the Union Passenger Terminal (physically helping people on to busses) we came to realize that very few of the changes we’d recommended had been executed upon.

The fact that the evacuation was completed was, once again, due to sheer resolve and brute force - coupled with many “in flight adaptations” of the plan.

We live, but do we learn?  Your book points out the importance of training-as-you-will-fight.  Thanks for driving the point home so very well!

Edward Minyard

Amanda Ripley said on April 21, 2009 at 7:27 pm

Thank you, Edward, for the very kind words. Yes, I think I saw you on that portico…

And thank you for contributing a “myth.” That is a chilling one.

Amanda

IOSH Training said on December 04, 2009 at 12:01 pm

Fire Drills are totally necessary! I dread to think what would happen if there was a fire somewhere and those inside weren’t fully aware or prepared. they will never be ‘cool’ as it’s always viewed as something the ‘Company’ makes you do, but they are still vital and people need to understand that.

NEBOSH Training said on December 07, 2009 at 11:02 am

Edward Minyard, that sounds terrible. It’s so important for us to learn from our mistakes.