When Disaster Strikes
8 questions leaders should ask before, during and after
By Kathleen Lowenthal
When a disaster strikes, people want to respond. They expect governments to provide immediate assistance, and individually they look for ways to help. Corporations also want to respond and assist, but leaders are faced with a mixed set of decision-making circumstances.
During these complicated incidents, questions often arise about strategy, partners, opportunities and employees impacted. Business leaders need to take into account the concerns of employees, customers, and other stakeholders. They also need to consider the timing, implementation mechanism, volunteer opportunities, impact and potential reputational issues of any such endeavor. Time is of the essence.
Global Impact has learned through more than a decade of disaster relief fundraising that having a decision-making process in place before disasters occur is critical to mobilizing and allocating resources effectively, and maximizing their impact. Below are key questions companies should ask themselves when considering a disaster response strategy.
