From protests on college campuses to demonstrations at the Republican and Democratic national conventions, recent events have demonstrated the elevated risk level around civil unrest incidents.
Civil unrest is a dynamic risk, meaning it can have unexpected impacts that cascade throughout an organization. A peaceful demonstration can block access to facilities, disrupting productivity and supply chain operations. A protest that turns violent can jeopardize the safety of employees or customers. Additionally, the way organizations manage an incident can have a long-term impact on brand reputation and customer success.
As the November presidential election approaches, risk, security and business continuity professionals should prioritize preparation for civil unrest. One of the best ways to evaluate preparedness is with a tabletop exercise.
A tabletop exercise is a no-fault simulation that helps:
- Validate emergency response plans
- Enhance early warning protocols and coordination
- Assess communication and crisis management
- Evaluate post-incident recovery and support teams
I recently hosted a tabletop exercise webinar with Rob Burton, Co-founder and Managing Director of PreparedEx, on the topic of civil unrest. Given the importance of preparing for these types of incidents, I’d like to share the main takeaways from this webinar, including recommendations for actions to take before, during and after a protest, demonstration, march, or other civil unrest event.
9 Civil Unrest Tabletop Takeaways
Before the Demonstrations
1. Use historical risk intelligence to identify trends and anticipate potential civil unrest incidents.
Historical risk data enables geographical analysis and unique risk insights needed to make strategic, data-driven security decisions for improved risk mitigation. For example, in November 2020, OnSolve Risk Intelligence protest reports tended to cluster in major cities, creating several hotspots. In January 2021, however, protest reports tended to scatter across a larger region, with protests occurring in unexpected locations outside of major cities. Risk and security professionals can use this historical data to better anticipate and plan for the 2024 election.
2. Build relationships in advance with local authorities.
State fusion centers and shared intelligence with local law enforcement can be key to identifying and tracking large, disruptive rallies and marches. Risk intelligence solutions that ingest computer-aided dispatch (CAD) data assist in keeping organizations informed of hyper-local events and how they unfold.
3. Have a business continuity plan in place that addresses civil unrest scenarios.
Protests and demonstrations can persist longer than initially anticipated – which may block access to roads and facilities. Make sure business continuity plans include alternate routes to facilities and backup work locations (including remote work). Employees may also be emotionally and mentally impacted by civil unrest. Business resilience plans should include programs and services to help ease employees' return to work.
During the Unrest
4. Gain situational awareness with real-time risk intelligence.
Accurate, real-time intelligence is critical when it comes to protests and demonstrations that can escalate quickly. It’s important to have access to risk intelligence that uses AI technology to scan massive amounts of data and filter out the noise, delivering accurate and relevant alerts about civil unrest incidents that may impact an organization's people, facilities, and assets.
5. Leverage mass notification to deliver targeted, time-sensitive alerts.
How will the organization communicate with employees who are in the building or on their way to the office if a demonstration becomes disruptive or violent? How about communications with customers or other stakeholders? A mass notification system that accommodates both static and dynamic groups helps ensure the right information gets to the right people at the right time. Examples include static groups for an incident management team (IMT) and crisis management team (CMT), as well as dynamic groups for all employees who badged into a specific office or traveling in the impacted area. Additional capabilities like two-way communication, response options and read receipts keep incident management teams aware of who is safe or in need of assistance.
6. Reach out to local contacts and exchange information.
A crisis is never the right time to be handing out business cards. Communication and collaboration with local law enforcement, emergency responders and community leaders during a protest or demonstration is essential. Share information and updates regularly.
7. Coordinate cross-functionally to protect the brand.
Business continuity managers need to think about protecting the brand along with keeping operations running, as a poor response can have negative long-term impacts. Be sure to coordinate with communication teams early on to ensure the right message is getting out to the media. Social listening also plays a key role in identifying and responding to potentially damaging sentiments before they become a significant brand risk.
When the Dust Settles
8. Keep a detailed log and debrief.
Gathering all the information about the team’s response to a complex, dynamic event like civil unrest is a necessary, yet arduous, task. A critical event management platform that provides a singular view of all messages sent and intelligence collected and reported during an event eases the burden and makes it seamless to complete an after-action report (AAR). Every incident (and every simulation) is a chance to identify areas for improvement and make changes. It may be helpful to bring in a crisis consulting partner to help identify gaps and make recommendations on how best to close them.
9. Check in with employees during the long recovery.
Refer to resilience plans created proactively to help ease the transition back to work. Establish regular check-ins with employees to verify their well-being and address their needs to minimize losses in productivity and retention.
These takeaways can help risk, security and business continuity teams better prepare for civil unrest, but it’s also important to conduct simulations that are customized to an organization. OnSolve and Crisis 24 have helped thousands of clients manage the dynamic risk from civil unrest. Whether you are looking to invest in people, process or technology, Crisis24 is honored to be your partner.
The mission can feel daunting and the path forward unclear. If you’d like to continue this discussion, provide feedback or are looking for assistance, OnSolve by Crisis24 is here to help.
