Security and Risks of Nature or Man-made Disasters.
Earthquakes
It is important for the Security Director's, of any corporation take into consideration the Security Risk's that nature provides to the region of an overseas business location. Many business locations in Latin America, especially along the Pacific Coast. All the way to Tierra Del Fuego (Chile) suffer from frequent earthquakes and tremors. In fact the words “Tierra Del Fuego” translates to the “Land of Fire” so named by the Spaniards who observed volcanic activity along its coastline.
BE PREPARED for earthquake emergency evacuation and have appropriate response plans for such activity.
Hurricanes
When we hear the word hurricane we automatically think of the Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Florida. Most of us don't think that hurricanes actually hit every little country in Caribbean sea, the northern part of South America, Central America and Mexico. Hurricanes also do hit the Pacific coast from Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and to Mexico. If your business has operations anywhere along the named areas and the coast.
You must prepare a Hurricane Response Emergency Plan.
Manufacturing Plants
Some years ago, I did a Security Survey Service contract in Southern Vera Cruz, Mexico. The facilities of the American company are located about ½ to ¾ of a mile from a PEMEX Petroleum where butane and propane are produced.
Part
of my survey suggested fire fighting response equipment and training
for the company security team. The Security director at the
facilities told the American CEO, that such equipment was not
needed. I was contacted by the CEO and I advise them of the proximity
of the plant and its dangers.
The CEO agreed with me and also used
the survey results to applied them a facility the company has in
Mexico City. A location, where the company building was about a mile
from a butane / propane production plant.
Two years later the Mexico City butane/propane production plant exploded and that company's security detachment was so well prepared that they kept extensive damage from happening to their building and personnel. The security detachment also rescued personnel from the neighboring office building's.
It is very important that we fully investigate all of the potential natural or man-made disasters for the areas where your company has operations and or facilities. Response plans must be available for any possible disasters that can or may occur. Review and check well manufacturing and production facilities near your company properties.
At a Survey Contract for another company's business facility, I discovered that a property had no way out of the area in case of any emergency that would block access to the roadway in front of the property. I recommended that the company move it facilities to another site because of the danger. The CEO made the suggested to his board and there were some dissenters. I was requested to appear before the board to explain the suggested needs and why. By a slim vote of one, the company decided to move it's operations.
Eleven (11) months later a minor earthquake brought down the one access ramp to the property and parts of the roadway fell unto the main street leading to the former company site. The street repairs took about sixteen (16) months to completely restore for access. That export business operation would have collapsed without access to its manufacturing facility.
Lesson to be learned here is:
BE PREPARED for the unexpected. Prepare for the required responses.
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