Pandemic influenza is the risk with the greatest likelihood plus the greatest relative impact facing the UK.
As announced in the National Security Strategy, the Government has published a National Risk Register. It outlines natural events (severe weather and inland and coastal flooding); infectious disease (such as pandemic flu; and animal disease such as foot and mouth); accidents (whether transport, or loss of utilities). The document covers attacks on crowded places, on critical infrastructure and transport, and non-conventional (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear or CBRN) and electronic attacks.
Under what organisations can do, the document mentions the British Standard for business continuity introduced last year (BS 25999). Questions include what if your business faced denial of access to a site or area; or there was an unexpected loss of mains electricity or IT systems, among other things. The publication has plenty of useful web links and a chapter on the risk assessment process.
The register sets out our assessment of the likelihood and potential impact of a range of different risks that may affect the UK. The Cabinet Office where you can download the 52-page document says that the register is designed to increase awareness of the kinds of risks the UK faces, and encourage individuals and organisations to think about their own preparedness. The register also includes details of what the Government and emergency services are doing to prepare for emergencies.
Send any comments on what you did not and did find useful in the document to [email protected]
