While working as a Technical Security Specialist in the Secret Service I was taught to identify risks, both physical and electronic – pre digital. Later as I transitioned into cyber security, I added the digital realm to the list but quickly realized the process is the same.
Life is full of risks and the threat, read probability, of them happening.
There are risks to our person, to our family, and to our communities. But how do you reduce the large set of might occur risks to a manageable few that are likely to occur (threats) and then make a plan to deal with them (our vulnerabilities).
Here is an example.
Physical and weather-related risk - Elle and I live in a condo building on the 4th floor in Colorado. There are no rivers or large bodies of water that might overflow. We are certainly not near the ocean. So, I’m not concerned with water-based risks. We are in a concrete and block building, so I’m also not worried about rapidly spreading fire. What I do think about is power outage.
Threat - I assess the likelihood of a sustained (more than two day long) power outage as a high probability threat that we are vulnerable to. We own the condo, but not the building. No electricity means no water, no refrigerator, no cooking, no sanitation.
Vulnerability – Lack of water, hot food, and sanitation
Response/Plan - In our case, if there is an extended power outage, I don’t need to prep. We will make use of backpacking and hunting equipment. I will use my portable generator on the porch and backpacking water filters and stoves to have water and cook meals. What would you do?
So, what is the list of risks to you and your family? Write them down then analyze them to determine those that are high probably, they are the threats to deal with first. Then medium threats and lastly low. Consider adding them to your lists if the result could be catastrophic.
The next step is to mitigate your vulnerability to those threats. If the threat is hurricanes, it could be a pre-set plan to leave your beachfront house to stay with a friend or family inland. Or if it’s fire, buying a couple fire extinguishers and teaching the family how to use them along with an accountability and exit plan.
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There are other risks in your life beyond my examples of physical and weather. These include elements of your health, work, finances, digital confidentiality, and legal.
Here is an example of a checklist to help you organize your thoughts on being ready. https://dhsem.colorado.gov/info-center/readycolorado/be-prepared
What are some of the threats you’ve had to deal with and what was your response?
Best Steve