Latest Updates

The resilience of airlines is being severely tested with a competitive market, the cost of operating and now the hit on passenger numbers with the coronavirus outbreak. The latest casualty is Flybe. It follows the path of Monarch and Thomas Cook. 

With the government about to release its emergency response plan for the Covid-19 outbreak, there are some important factors to consider.

Research puts a figure on the cost of mental ill-health after suffering a flood, a price that has hitherto not being incorporated in the damage done to inundated households.

Resilience First launches a guide on Emotional Resilience for business when preparing for, and recovering from, major incidents.

A new document from Public Health England titled 'COVID-19: guidance for employers and businesses' was published on 25 February.

The prospect of the WHO declaring a pandemic is increasing. It is therefore timely to look at the background as well as the practical steps of wearing - or not wearing - face masks.

Besides the dangers arising from the coronavirus, there is another corona - that of the sun - which has the potential to cause even greater harm, this time to systems rather than people.

With the infection and mortality rates for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak continuing to increase but showing some signs of slowing in China, the UK authorities are using established plans for pandemic influenza as the basis for preparedness.

New reports from the European Environment Agency, WWF and London Climate Change Panel highlight the dangers as well as some adaptive measures.

As infections and deaths climb, it is worth considering the longer term impact of the coronavirus on China's ability to manufacture and ship its goods abroad, and hence the resilience of supply chains that sustain the world's trade.

As much of the UK mops up after Storm Ciara, it is timely to draw attention to the launch of the Property Flood Resilience Code of Practice published by CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) on 10 February.

The Resilience Shift in partnership with Resilience First brought together Ofgem, National Grid, Thames Water and UK Power Networks at a joint event on building resilience across utilities on 22 January 2020. This is a brief report on the event.

A prescient report on CT consequence management is summarised here, alongside the latest police advice following the terrorist incident in Streatham on 2 February.

Public Health England (PHE) issued advice on 1 February to employers, employees and the public on actions to take to limit the spread of the latest Coronavirus.

Introduction

The outbreak of the Coronavirus (designated WN-CoV or 2019-nCoV) originating in China is viewed in the UK as a high-consequence infectious disease and a 'moderate' health risk. It is being carefully monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO) which has now declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. (See Useful References below.)

As the government is about to undertake a wide-ranging review of the UK's defence and security strategy, this assessment looks at the case for reviewing the national threat levels.

There is a strong connection between deterrence and resilience: the more resilient one is, the greater the deterrent effect. This article by Peter Watkins explores the latest thinking on an important and topical subject.

Managed properly, a major incident can result in improved resilience and cohesion for a community, organisation or team. Dr Liz Royle explores the key principles.

The ransomware attack on Travelex at the start of 2020 highlights some important lessons for others.

Update to previous reporting on 20 January.

The latest reports from Asia are not reassuring on the potential spread of a new SARS-like virus. While it is early days, it would be prudent to review resilience plans for dealing with an epidemic/pandemic - hoping that they are not needed.

The Environment Agency has started this year's 'Flood Action Week' campaign with a package of materials for use by businesses and homeowners. .

As a new decade dawns, the prediction is that resilience will increasingly take centre stage.

The second of a two-part article on emotional resilience that appears in the January 2020 edition of Professional Security magazine, p48.