What security and emergency information do businesses want from government? A New York survey

This paper presents and analyses survey findings gathered from New York City metropolitan area business continuity and emergency management professionals regarding the flow of security and emergency preparedness information between government and businesses. It finds that NYC metropolitan area businesses want information from government to inform their activities before, during and after a crisis. Existing efforts notwithstanding, businesses believe that the information they currently receive from government is insufficient, too general and not actionable. The survey also indicates that businesses lack the formal rules and processes to evaluate and distribute emergency information received from government. The paper recommends that government agencies allocate resources to broaden their existing information outreach to the business sector, increasing both the ‘volume’ as well as the ‘quality’ of information, emphasising content that is specific, actionable and relevant to activities before, during and after a crisis. It also calls for the government to promote additional research to define information needs within the private sector; to identify and share best practice regarding existing information programmes; and to fund and support information- sharing programmes on a state-wide, regional and major metropolitan area basis. Finally, the paper recommends that businesses should improve their internal capabilities to evaluate and distribute security and preparedness information received from government.