The company should either establish a permanent facility in which to manage crisis events (if the frequency and scope of crises facing its business activities warrant such an investment) or develop and pre‐position portable crisis management resources to quickly establish a temporary crisis control center within an operating area. Alternatively, a virtual crisis management center may be more preferable in terms of cost and ease of management. It is critical that resources enable the crisis team to communicate with multiple groups, both those dealing with a crisis at the point of the emergency as well as those leveraged or contracted to support the resolution of a crisis. Multiple mediums for communication are often required, as the crisis event may have affected one or several communication lines. The following considerations are offered to assist companies in provisioning an effective crisis control center:
Communications
§ Landlines, satellite phones, and mobile phones
§ Fax machine
§ Videoconferencing
Information Technology
§ Computers and printers
§ Internet connectivity
§ PowerPoint and monitors
Management
§ Status boards and personnel rosters
§ Action plans and operational instructions
§ Management and interface structures
§ Action boards and personnel status tracker
§ Implemented plan tracker
§ Intranet management site
Information
§ Intelligence reports
§ News channels (television and radio)
§ Intelligence briefing boards
§ Ongoing directives
§ Status reports
§ Threat reviews
Documents
§ Business Continuity Management Plan
§ Security plans and exhibits
§ Agreements and contact lists
Mapping and Imagery
§ Regional and local maps
§ Satellite and aerial photography
§ Schematics and floor plans
Facilities
§ Conference rooms and offices
§ Private briefing room
§ Secure area for security materials
Administrative Support
§ Photocopier machine
§ Satellite and aerial photography
§ Schematics and floor plans
Ancillary Equipment
§ Stationery supplies
§ Rubber gloves and plastic bags
§ Medical stores
§ Air‐conditioning or heating
§ Beds and showers
§ Securable cabinets
§ Paper shredder
§ Access control (locks)
§ Food and water
§ Power and lighting
Access to the crisis control center should be restricted to only appropriate persons, and should be locked if the center is not operated during certain hours. Access to intranet sites or other information technology storage facilities or mediums should also be restricted and monitored. The location and resources available to the crisis control center, whether sited within the affected area or positioned outside of an impacted area, will determine what resources are required, as well as the level of security needed to secure this critical facility.
