In the November print edition of Professional Security Magazine. we’ll be reviewing some new products at the show, and what we heard from various people, visitors and exhibitors. Here we begin that review with the always watchable CrisisCast.
As in previous Expos, they performed their ‘drama’ – of a crisis and disaster management and crisis control simulation. As last year, it was a cyber incident – a corporate suffering a hack. With his back to camera is lead producer Brian Mitchell. We didn’t get chance to speak to him this year, but in past years he’s explained to us how CrisisCast brings actors and film crews to a crisis management and disaster training incidents, to bring it to life.
As security and operations managers will tell you, a serious incident such as a riot, at an airport a fire on an aircraft, or an act of terror, are (thankfully) rare. That does mean however that security and indeed other responders will probably not have recent, or any, experience of such an incident (or a report of one, even if it turns out to be a hoax). While staff can be trained in first aid, what of the visceral bodily feelings provoked by such a stressful incident, that may mean that a responder doesn’t do what’s needed; or, actually does something that (with hindsight) makes the situation worse?
In a crisis, whether a physical fire or act of terrorism, or a cyber one, time is of the essence – as the Expo scenario played out showed, wishing away the hack or trusting that some piece of cyber software will protect, won’t wash – with higher-ups in the corporate, or the money markets, let alone the hackers.
Hence CrisisCast. Their producers work with the cleint’s trainers to develop scripted scenarios. CrisisCast brief and rehearse; they regularly execute NDAs that include the role play actors and crew.
A crisis management exercises can test your monitoring and communications systems, safety plans including lockdown and evacuation procedures (a topic shortly to be featured in Professional Security Magazine), emergency services response and handling of media coverage, including social media. Talking of social media, it’s become an essential communication tool in crisis management – not only for broadcasting emergency messages to the public, but as a way of directly engaging with those in distress. CrisisCast has a specialist from PR, media training, social media and crisis management who scripts the simulations.
The minimum CrisisCast offer is for two actors to work on a piece of training for a day. They can – and do – supply up to 200 rehearsed actors. The way they do this is by building teams of 12 – and each team of 12 will have a ‘wrangler’ whose job is to make sure all logistics are handled for their team; from casting and contracts (including NDAs) to payment and travel arrangements. The Team Wrangler is also responsible for Health and Safety during a simulation.
Last but not least they film events – as a record of the training, and to produce interactive training tools for use after the event.
Visit www.crisiscast.com.
