Standards Spotlight

September is National Preparedness Month, an observance that raises awareness of the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. Organized by the Ready Campaign, National Preparedness Month encourages preparedness with weekly themes, social media outreach, public service announcement videos, and more, centered on this year’s theme: “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and its members are dedicated to supporting preparedness for disasters and emergencies from weather incidents to fires to cybersecurity attacks. NFPA 1600, Standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management, is an American National Standard (ANS) developed by ANSI member and audited designator NFPA. It establishes a common set of criteria for all emergency management and business continuity programs, including information on the planning, implementation, execution, assessment, and maintenance of programs related to prevention, mitigation, response, continuity, and recovery.

NFPA also offers numerous resources on its webpage dedicated to emergency preparedness.

Another ANS guides telecommunications technology for National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Next Generation Network Priority-Services (NGN-PS). ATIS-1000061.2015, LTE Access Class 14 for National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) Communication, supports technology that allows first responders and emergency managers priority voice, data, and video communications during emergencies and widespread outages. This document was developed by ANSI member and accredited standards developer ATIS.

Natural disasters can disrupt water utilities, contaminating supplies and preventing access to clean drinking water. AWWA G440-2017, Emergency Preparedness Practice, is an ANS that covers the minimum requirements to establish and maintain an acceptable level of emergency preparedness based on the identified and perceived risks facing utilities within the water sector. It was developed by ANSI member and accredited standards developer the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

ANSI members have developed standards for emergency preparedness specific to many other areas, as well. They include:

• Public transportation: APTA-SS-SRM-RP-001-09, Recommended Practice for the Development and Implementation of a Security and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP), developed by APTA
• Security management: ASIS BC GDL (2005), Business Continuity Guideline - A Practical Approach for Emergency Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Disaster Recovery, developed by ASIS International
• Persons with disabilities: ASTM E2951-13(2020)e1, Standard Guide for Community Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities, developed by ASTM International
• Laboratory operations: CLSI GP36-A (R2019), Planning for Laboratory Operations During a Disaster; Approved Guideline, developed by CLSI
• Petroleum and natural gas: CSA Z246.2-2018, Emergency preparedness and response for petroleum and natural gas industry systems, developed by CSA

Learn more about National Preparedness Month at Ready.gov.