7.5 Protecting Against Physical and Environmental Threats

Protection against physical and environmental threats, such as natural disasters and other intentional or unintentional physical threats to infrastructure, should be designed and implemented.

To ensure that the organisation is prepared for unexpected physical and environmental threats.

Protection against physical and environmental threats, such as natural disasters, is an important aspect of emergency preparedness. Some strategies for protecting against these types of threats include:

• Building or retrofitting structures to be more resistant to natural disasters, such as earthquakes or floods. This can include reinforcing foundations and walls, installing shatter-resistant windows, and using other structural measures to make buildings more resistant to damage. One good practice is to check the government assessment of the area using sites such as gov.uk
• Develop and implement evacuation plans so people know where to go and what to do in the event of a natural disaster. This can include identifying safe evacuation routes, setting up emergency shelters, and coordinating with local authorities to provide transportation and other assistance to evacuees.
• Stocking up on essential supplies, such as food, water, and medications, in case of an emergency. This can help people to survive for a few days or longer without access to external resources.
• Educating people about the risks of natural disasters and how to prepare for them. This can include providing information about the types of disasters that are common in a particular area, and teaching people how to identify the warning signs of an impending disaster.
• Overall, protecting against physical and environmental threats requires a combination of physical measures, such as building codes and evacuation plans, and individual preparedness, such as having a stocked emergency kit.