Economic Disruptions, Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Forensic Analysis: The Hawaii Business Recovery Center (HIBRC) Project

Abstract

It is proposed that modern disaster forensics can reduce supply chain disruptions, enhance disaster resilience and promote a more robust economy. This chapter examines the root causes of economic disruptions by presenting ‘forensic analysis approaches’ to disasters that impact the economy of the US island state of Hawaii. Supply chain disruptions and investigations pertaining to business disruptions are undertaken with an emphasis on modeling, understanding and characterizing the complex causality that defines them. In so doing this chapter uncovers creative, timely and important strategies for analyzing accidents and disasters that impact the economy of Hawaii. In order to promote business continuity planning and disaster forensics in Hawaii, the twenty-eighth Hawaii State Legislature enacted, and the Governor of Hawaii has signed, House Bill (HB) 1343 which provides funds for new state of the art Hawaii Business Recovery Center (HIBRC), a joint partnership between the State of Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), the State of Hawaii State Procurement Office (SPO), and the University of Hawaii West Oahu (UHWO). This designated business recovery hub will provide both outreach and dissemination of business recovery resources in addition to serving as a center for presenting disaster forensics approaches to disaster investigations in Hawaii, thereby uncovering the complex causality that underlies them. The center will help inform businesses of the importance of disaster preparedness; assist with post-disaster business recovery efforts; and create a robust business recovery network that shares the highest-level of management and governance with business leaders and strives for best disaster management practices and continuous improvement.