A needs assessment should be conducted to determine resources needed. Resources may come from within the business including trained employees, protection and safety systems, communications equipment and other facilities owned or leased by the business. Other resources from external sources include public emergency services, business partners, vendors and contractors.
The availability and capability of resources must be determined - some are required immediately. For example, trained people (employees or public emergency services) capable of administering first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be available to respond at a moment’s notice. Other resources such as plywood to board up windows in anticipation of a hurricane may be stockpiled in advance or purchased when a storm is forecast. Even if plywood is stockpiled in advance, temporary labor may be needed to install the plywood over windows and doors.
The availability of resources often depends on logistics. Logistics is the management of resources to get them to where they are needed when they are needed.