1. SHRM Poll: Disaster Planning in Organizations 10 Years After the Sept
SHRM Poll: Disaster Planning in Organizations 10 Years After the Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks
August 31, 2011

2. Key Findings
How many organizations currently have a formal disaster preparedness plan in place? In 2001, only slightly more than one-half of organizations had a formal disaster preparedness plan in place (e.g., a plan for what to do in case of an emergency or disaster) (54%). This percentage has increased to 76% in 2011.
Was any part of an organization’s disaster preparedness plan implemented or revised as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? In 2011, more than one-half of organizations (61%) indicated implementing or revising their disaster plan specifically as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks. This was a slight increase from 2005, when 56% reported implementing or revising their plan because of the attacks.
Do organizations feel prepared for a potential threat or disaster (e.g., terrorist attack, natural disaster, epidemic, workplace violence)? Although the percentage of organizations that feel prepared increased in 2011, only 33% of organizations believe they are prepared to a great or very great extent and 42% feel prepared to a moderate extent.
What security provisions has your organization made as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks? Nearly one-half of organizations (48%) have offered or required more training on crisis/disaster management and developed business continuity plans (47%). Other provisions implemented as result of the 2001 attacks included developing communication plans for emergency situations (42%); installing and/or upgrading video cameras or closed-circuit television surveillance equipment (37%); and monitoring s and Internet use by employees (33%).
Which organizations are better prepared? In general, larger organizations appear to be better prepared and more likely to have a disaster plan in place. The 2011 anniversary of the Sept. 11 events presents an opportunity for smaller organizations to consider their level of preparedness for a disaster.

3.   Percentage of organizations with a formal disaster preparedness plan (i.e., a plan for what to do in case of an emergency or disaster)
(n = 306)
(n = 268)
(n = 6,855)
(n = 5,460)
Note: Respondents who answered “not sure” were excluded from the 2011 analysis.

4. Smaller organizations
  Percentage of organizations with a formal disaster preparedness plan (i.e., a plan for what to do in case of an emergency or disaster)
Comparison by Organization Staff Size
Compared with smaller organizations, larger organizations (those with more than 2,500 employees) are more likely to have a formal disaster preparedness plan in place.
>
Large organizations
(2,500 or more employees)
Smaller organizations
(fewer than 2,499 employees)
Number of employees
25,000+ employees
2,500-24,999 employees
500-2,499 employees
employees
1-99 employees
Organization has a formal disaster preparedness plan in place.
95%
98%
80%
70%
58%

5. Percentage of organizations that have implemented or revised their disaster preparedness plan specifically as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks
(n = 176)
Note: Respondents who answered “not sure” were excluded from the analysis.

6. Overall, how prepared is your organization for any potential threats or disasters (e.g., terrorist attack, natural disasters, epidemics, workplace violence)?
(n = 268)
(n = 6,855)
(n = 5,460)
Note: 2005 and 2001 data do not equal 100% because of rounding.

7. Smaller organizations
Overall, how prepared is your organization for any potential threats or disasters (e.g., terrorist attack, natural disasters, epidemics, workplace violence)?
Comparison by Organization Staff Size
Compared with smaller organizations, larger organizations (more than 2,500 employees) are more likely to be prepared for any potential threat or disaster.
>
Large organizations
(2,500 or more employees)
Smaller organizations
(Fewer than 2,499 employees)
Number of employees
25,000+
2, ,999
,499
1 - 99
Great extent prepared
58%
38%
20%
15%
23%
Small extent prepared 0% 9%
16%
30%

8. What security provisions has your organization implemented or revised specifically as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks?
Offering and requiring more training about crisis/disaster management
48%
Developing a business continuity plan
47%
Developing communication plans for emergency situations
42%
Installing and/or upgrading video cameras or closed-circuit television surveillance equipment
37%
Monitoring s and Internet use
33%
Developing backup data storage and/or backup facilities in order to restore the original data in an event of loss
30%
Installing high-tech identification equipment such as badge scanners
Requiring all visitors to wear identification badges
26%
Adding cyber locks (electronic padlocks) that allow security personnel to track who enters and leaves each building
25%
Requiring all employees to wear an identification badge
18%
Note: n = Total does not equal 100% because of multiple responses.

9. How strongly do you agree with this statement: “One or more of my organization’s worksites is a potential target for a terrorist attack because of the nature of work my organization conducts.”
n = 302

10. How strongly do you agree with this statement: “One or more of my organization’s worksites is a potential target for a terrorist attack because of its proximity to other locations that could be targets.”
n = 305

11. Demographics: Organization Industry
Percentage
Manufacturing
18%
Professional, scientific and technical services
12%
Health care and social assistance
11%
Finance and insurance
10%
Public administration 6%
Educational services 5%
Accommodation and food services (accommodation; food services and drinking places) 4%
Retail trade
Arts, entertainment and recreation 3%
Construction (construction of buildings; heavy and civil engineering construction; specialty trade contractors)
Transportation and warehousing
Wholesale trade
n = 302

12. Demographics: Organization Industry (continued)
Percentage
Administrative, support, waste management and remediation services 2%
Information
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations
Utilities
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 1%
Mining
Real estate, rental and leasing
Management of companies and enterprises 0%
Personal and laundry services
Private households
Repair and maintenance
Other services except public administration 7%
n = 302

13. Demographics: Organization Sector

14. Demographics: Organization Staff Size
Note: n = Total does not equal 100% because of rounding.

15. Demographics: Other
Does your organization have U.S.-based operations (business units) only or does it operate multinationally?
U.S.-based operations only
74%
Multinational operations
26%
n = 298
Is your organization a single-unit company or a multi-unit company?
Single-unit company: A company in which the location and the company are one and the same
32%
Multi-unit company: A company that has more than one location
68%
n = 301
Are HR policies and practices determined by the multi-unit corporate headquarters, by each work location or both?
Multi-unit headquarters determines HR policies and practices
46%
Each work location determines HR policies and practices 3%
A combination of both the work location and the multi-unit headquarters determine HR policies and practices
51%
n = 213

16. SHRM Poll: Disaster Planning in Organizations 10 Years After the Sept
SHRM Poll: Disaster Planning in Organizations 10 Years After the Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks
Methodology
Response rate = 11%
Sample composed of 306 randomly selected HR professionals from SHRM’s membership
Margin of error +/- 5%
Survey fielded June 9-22, 2011
For more poll findings, visit
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