Crisis Management And Emergency Response: What Would You Do If Disaster Strikes?

The telephone rings at 3:20 a.m. and an exasperated voice on the other end says, “There’s been a mine explosion at Mine No. 5 and we have not heard from three units of men!” Twenty-three minutes later, the phone rings again and another panicked voice says, “There’s something wrong at the slurry impoundment, the pool level has just dropped five feet and we’re trying to figure out what’s wrong!” Thirty minutes later, the mobile phone rings and an excited security guard says, “We have reports of thick black water running down both the right fork and left fork of Straight Creek and both seem to be rising in the banks!” As if this isn’t enough excitement, the mobile phone rings again and a stressed company official says, “I just heard a report that black slurry is running out of the portals of XYZ Company No. 2 Mine, which is adjacent to our No. 5 Mine!” Is this all some kind of dream or nightmare? More importantly, however, if this could happen, what on earth do you do? Although we all like to think that “It can’t happen to me,” we all must admit that mine explosions do happen, slurry impoundments can rupture and creeks can flood with black water causing damage to others, including competitors. Your response must be quick, cool-headed, calculated and effective. This paper will examine the issues, concerns and ramifications of this hypothetical “disaster” and then present a systematic crisis management response. While each situation is different, there are general guidelines for forming an effective plan of action.