As Darryl noted in his introduction to The Resilient Blog, our company believes resiliency is a comprehensive and strategic management paradigm that has many components, all of which encompass the traditional domains of risk management, continuity of operations, emergency management, et al. But the language of resiliency is something everyone needs to focus on, as it will drive our attitudes, policies, practices and, eventually, our laws and regulations, regarding resiliency.
A recent national newscast described in new efforts to recruit all employees of an airport as "eyes and ears" for airport law enforcement and Homeland Security. NBC News, Miami International Airport It was describing what many would recognize as a simple "neighborhood watch" program for an airport. Such a concept is fine, but in the language describing the initiative, the airport's program manager spoke of the effort to make the airport "one hundred percent safe."
Such language is a disservice to not only the concept of resiliency, but to the public, firefighters, police officers, and all employees and consumers of airport services. No airport can be 100% safe. Such expectations unrealistic. An expectation of "one hundred percent safety" will drive exorbitant and ineffective spending, and, ultimately, increased cynicism in government when all of the spending and policies fail to prevent a disaster, natural, man-made or an act of terrorism.
Governments, businesses, communities, and families must focus on being resilient, and not pretend we can be immune to the effects of disasters, natural or man-made. Words mean things, and being resilient calls for close attention to the lexicon we use in debating and making public policy about preparing for, responding to, and mitigating against threats, from whatever source.
Michael D. Brown
Director, Emergency Management Programs
The Resilient Corporation
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