ABSTRACT
Disaster-readiness must be an integral part of the design process. When man lived in caves, every day was an exercise in disaster planning and recovery. Modern information systems managers have an absolute social, technical, and economic responsibility to get information to the public when disaster strikes. Designers of these facilities must do their part to build workplaces that will meet the special needs of the lifeline information mission during major emergencies. A growing number of smaller businesses which have experienced serious business disruptions during emergencies, or wish to avoid that unpleasant experience, are writing their own emergency plans and building their own emergency organizations. Disaster planning and recovery is an art, a science, and a technology. Like entities such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or the Society of Broadcast Engineers, disaster planners have their own professional groups and certification standards.
