In age of COVID, we need preparedness on all levels

September is National Preparedness Month. In my recent memory, considering the recent weather-related events, global supply chain issues, natural resources scarcity and COVID-19, we need preparedness on all levels.

I use the term all levels to highlight how interconnected we are to our families, occupations, communities, nation and the world. Clearly the global COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated our connectedness on human and business levels.

Most organizations have worked out their logistics that were necessitated by COVID-19. The hybrid work model is new terminology that I believe has a permanent place in our business lexicon — if for no other reason than the commercial real estate expansion in some cases and reductions in space by other organizations, and the resulting balance of the office spaces with social distancing and technology considerations.

Preparedness means different things to different people. I have a friend who lives in northern California. For years, she has kept preparedness backpacks for her family, at the ready, in case of earthquakes. Those same backpacks are being repurposed with the addition of N95 face masks for wildfire season.

The creativity and innovation of most organizations have been put to the task in adapting to the ebb and flow to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks and associated restrictions. Many of those innovations, for example QR codes for menus at restaurants, I contend have become a technological solution with numerous benefits.

We have seen that in too many cases, our physical infrastructures and current response resources were not sufficient to prevent the disasters we have witnessed. An after-action review is appropriate for an understanding of what happened, why and whether the response yielded the desired outcome.

I have relatives who live in Philadelphia. You may not have seen the videos or photographs, depending on your news sources, but a major traffic artery through the center of the city was so flooded that a resident was seen doing backflips into the flooded waterway from the cross streets above. The damage and loss of lives were horrific throughout many regions of country.

To my understanding, in most cases the water control systems did not fail but were overwhelmed by water flow beyond the design specifications of the systems. Preparedness comes in multiple forms.

Let me wrap up this touch point on preparedness with the concern we all have regarding the education. The national educational imperative needs more attention, but at this time there is nearly universal agreement on the benefits of in-person education. We also know and agree on some level that parents and caregivers have a priority to take care their children, and if the children cannot be in school, someone must take care of the children.

The solutions to the in-school preparedness requirement is multifaceted. It will and does require the community, government, businesses, school districts, public health officials and parents to come together to create plans that are flexible, adaptable and education centered.

Consider what preparedness steps you should take for your own organizations.

Cornell Wright is the author of “31 Coffee Breaks to a Better Organization,” an executive coach, trainer and consultant at The Parker Wright Group Inc. in Stratford. The firm strengthens clients’ team development in pursuit of customer service strategies and processes. He is a Certified Partner of Predictive Index. He can be reached at 203-377-4226 or cornell@ parkerwrightgroup.com.

Matt Rourke / Associated Press A vehicle is under water during flooding in Philadelphia Sept. 2, in the aftermath of downpours and high winds from the remnants of Hurricane Ida that hit the area.