Disaster Recovery: Lessons from Katrina

1. Disaster Recovery:Lessons from Katrina Gail Ann McCreary, CRM Mississippi Power Company

3. Hurricane Katrina – August 29, 2005 • Worst natural disaster in U.S. history • Affected Alabama – Mississippi – Louisiana • 250 miles wide • 140 mph winds • 30 ft tidal surge along coast line

9. Were Dealing With… • Rain and wind damage • Tornadoes • Flooding • “Coal water” • Submerged records • Bio-hazard

18. Determined Priorities • Damage incurred • Business unit and function • Criticality to restoration effort • Building access issues

20. The Plan…. • Identify records needing to be dried • Pack into boxes • Stage on pallets • Shrink wrap • Load into freezer truck

21. First Priorities • Substation Construction • Powerco • Plant Watson

29. Plan Changed • Downtown buildings had to be vacated • All dry records • All PCs, printers, phones • Employee personal effects • Undamaged furniture and modular • Office supplies • 400 employees

30. New Issues • Needed more boxes!!!! • Needed temporary office space for 400 employees • What to do with all the “stuff” • Employees still on storm duty • 2-3 weeks

31. Plan B DR would stay and pack dry records too • I did not have the manpower • DR was experienced • Had supply and manpower resources in place

32. Determined Numbering Scheme • Building ID • Floor number • Location number 202-101 = General Office 2nd floor cubicle #202 SI221-106 = G&SI 2nd floor location #221 842-102 = Hancock Bank 8th floor location #842

34. Challenges Faced • Locked doors • On-going building clean-up & restoration • No elevators • No electricity • Storage for 7700+ boxes

35. Back to “Normal”

38. Phase II • Multiple temporary offices • No storage in temporary offices • No file cabinets • Delivery issues • Palletized boxes not in order by location

39. Phase II • Employees would have to review • Coordinate with occupancy schedule • Named coordinators for each site • Small volumes delivered where possible

40. Location No. ______818 _________ Name _Lateral file __

41. Options • Take • Destroy • Interim • Records center storage

44. Lessons Learned - Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor

45. Lessons Learned -Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor • Understand the process / clarify costs

46. Lessons Learned - Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor • Understand the process / clarify costs • Utilize multiple people

47. Lessons Learned - Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor • Understand the process / clarify costs • Utilize multiple people • Work closely with contractor

48. Lessons Learned - Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor • Understand the process / clarify costs • Utilize multiple people • Work closely with contractor • Walk-thru after packing completed

49. Lessons Learned - Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor • Understand the process / clarify costs • Utilize multiple people • Work closely with contractor • Walk-thru after packing completed • Have floor plans for all buildings

50. Lessons Learned - Disaster Recovery Process • Utilize document recovery contractor • Understand the process / clarify costs • Utilize multiple people • Work closely with contractor • Walk-thru after packing completed • Have floor plans for all buildings • Document! Document! Document!