Effective security planning must address both the strengths and weaknesses of existing security systems and emergency response plans, and the environment in which they exist, before effective emergency plans can be devised, tested and implemented.

The Challenge The task of emergency preparedness is daunting: the risks are complex and interdependent, there is a maze of public and private entities with overlapping jurisdiction over infrastructure, and there are limited resources available for preparedness planning. In order to plan properly, risks must be identified, quantified and prioritized, public and private entities must be coordinated, and plans to address the risks must be developed and tested. While the Department of Homeland Security has provided funding and some direction to state and local law enforcement agencies to plan against potential threats, many organizations need expert assistance. IDEA applies its broad experience, staff expertise and proprietary software tools and processes to address these complex problems.

The IDEA Approach: IDEA begins with a thorough analysis of current resources and work processes. Data about existing business and operations functions, such as the existing emergency response structure and plans, are collected in IDEA''s proprietary PREMISE database. There it is formatted and analyzed to identify process interrelationships and external factors dependencies. Failure mode and impact analyses are conducted to identify weak points in existing systems and to determine the potential impact of failures. Vulnerability analysis helps identify and prioritize failure modes in order to effectively allocate resources. Contingency and continuity plans are then developed and tested to address potential failures. Emergency plans are upgraded and prioritized based on planning exercises conducted by IDEA to ready the organization for emergency response. The IDEA process creates real-time emergency management tools that ensure that the appropriate officials or agencies properly alert resources, monitor the crisis, and initiate continuity plans. EXPERTISE SNAP SHOTS :  Homeland Security Planning - Interoperability - Emergency Exercise Planning - Strategic Business Planning