12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
[P-34] A review of stressors affecting organisational resilience of emergency facilities and infrastructure in cascading crises
Keywords:Cascading risk, Critical infrastructure, Emergency Facilities , Organisational Resilience, Operational Resesilience
A significant part of the academic literature investigated the dependencies between critical infrastructure such as electricity, transport, or communications. Much less attention has been devoted to the analysis of assets that are more peripherical in the interconnected functional networks. This paper focuses on those critical infrastructure and facilities that are the backbone of emergency responses, such as civil protection coordination centres, hospitals, fire and police stations. Despite being not perceived as essential assets for maintaining ‘business as usual’ functions, any substantial reduction of their capacity can worsen ongoing incidents, affecting both organisations and society.
In this work, we propose a review of which are the essential challenges associated with the organisational resilience of emergency infrastructure and facilities in terms of continuity management. First, we explain the role of emergency infrastructure and facilities, describing their operational duties and their role in response to crises. Secondly, we define which could be possible stressors, including both functional and human factors. This is supported through a set of examples and lessons learned that is integrated into practical advice for continuity management and organisational resilience policies. Finally, we systematise how cascading effects caused by disruptions in other infrastructures can affect the capacity to maintain continuity of services, proposing further steps for practices and areas for future research.
In this work, we propose a review of which are the essential challenges associated with the organisational resilience of emergency infrastructure and facilities in terms of continuity management. First, we explain the role of emergency infrastructure and facilities, describing their operational duties and their role in response to crises. Secondly, we define which could be possible stressors, including both functional and human factors. This is supported through a set of examples and lessons learned that is integrated into practical advice for continuity management and organisational resilience policies. Finally, we systematise how cascading effects caused by disruptions in other infrastructures can affect the capacity to maintain continuity of services, proposing further steps for practices and areas for future research.