Cable & Wireless adopts a pan-regional approach to preparedness for the 2008 hurricane season
With reports indicating that 2008 is expected to be an active hurricane season, Cable & Wireless’ businesses across the region have already begun activating a robust regional disaster and business continuity plan to ensure the protection of the company’s significant investment in its telecommunications infrastructure.
At the centre of these plans is a two-pronged approach which combines a proactive, personal employee preparedness planning, and a comprehensive organisational disaster management and business continuity programme for its Caribbean operations. This preparedness plan is designed to ensure that in the event of a service disruption, the company will be ready to restore service to its customers in the shortest possible time.
Donald Austin, President Cable & Wireless, Barbados and the spokesperson for the organisation’s Business Continuity Management programme, which includes disaster preparedness and recovery noted, “Every year, prior to the start of the season, the company sets the wheels in motion to update its comprehensive disaster preparedness plan with cross-functional teams from every island and confirms its state of readiness for roll out in the event of a natural disaster. This process among other things includes testing key equipment, securing supplies and spares, addressing any issues raised in the previous year and liaising with key stakeholders like CDERA and the local agencies..”
In speaking about the resilience of the network, Mr. Austin explained, “Over the years the region has experienced catastrophic hurricanes, earth tremors, storm surges and flooding. Cable & Wireless is very proud that in the vast majority of these incidents our network has remained operational, allowing our customers to continue to communicate with their loved ones and businesses to continue to function. In cases where there have been disruptions our dedicated teams have moved quickly to restore service to some normalcy in the shortest possible time. However he added “This is only possible if our colleagues know their families are secure and a personal disaster preparedness plan is in place to assist in the event of a natural disaster.”
Cable and Wireless encourages all Caribbean residents to ensure that they have a personal disaster preparedness plan in place to safeguard their families against any eventuality. We are ready and you should be ready also.
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