CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN TEMPLATE A Crisis Response Plan is a structured framework that helps organizations and individuals identify, manage, and recover from emergency situations. It outlines clear response steps, defines the chain of command, and establishes how information should flow. This template aligns with ISO 22361 and supports that process with structured, fillable sections to document potential crisis scenarios, response protocols, communication coordination, the crisis management team, emergency contacts, and recovery strategies. 01 CRISIS RESPONSE PLAN A Crisis Response Plan applies in the event of (Not limited to): Damage to Premises Natural Disasters Cyber Attacks IT outages Loss of Supply Chain This template is ideal for: Site Supervisors and Operations Managers Business Owners and Executive Leadership HR and Safety Compliance Officers IT and Security Teams A Crisis Response Plan helps an organization by: Protecting workers and clients, providing clear, objective instructions to ensure the physical safety of employees and visitors. Reducing operational disruption by facilitating a faster return to business functions and reducing financial losses. Protecting company assets, both physical and intellectual, including data, and other critical assets. Creating a clear communications channel by assigning responsibilities, a chain of command, and explaining how information would be shared throughout the organization Makes recovery smooth by learning from the incident to improve future responses, helping restore normal operations as quickly as possible, after the crisis ends. Note: The templates/guides in our Content Library were created by the SDS Manager Team to help you manage site operations effectively. They are provided as reference tools and should be tailored to match your specific project needs, ompany policies, and industry standards. SDS Manager does not guarantee that these templates meet legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements. Users are responsible for reviewing and adapting each template to ensure compliance with their operational and legal obligations. 01 02 HOW TO USE THIS TEMPLATE: Section Usage instructions Fill in key company information. Assign core members of the crisis management team. Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9 Section 10 Section 11 Section 12 Section 13 Identify the crisis, its impact, and severity level. Tick the checkboxes that apply List emergency contacts, including emergency services and key stakeholders. List the channels through which communication is handled. Define the response plan according to the crisis, including the method of detection, what to do within the first few hours, and a summary of the communication plan, resource requirements, and recovery plan. Determine the severity level of the crisis, the size of the team, and the expertise needed. Next, list the responsible person for each required action and tick when the action is completed. Fill up a summary of information to share for internal and external communication. List information about necessary equipment, safe assembly points,the duration each department will likely be affected, and proposed workarounds to reduce business disruption. Account for employees by department, the key contact person, and accountability method used to determine employee status (e.g., via a checklist, doing headcounts). List available services for employee well-being during a crisis. Report findings after the crisis to determine what can be done to reduce loss if a similar crisis arises in the future. List emergency drills and schedules. List the responsible person, review date, and proposed changes of Crisis Management Plan. Get final approval from key leadership for the crisis response plan. SECTION 1. ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION & SCOPE Table 1: This section documents the identity of the facility and the specific risks addressed by the plan. 03 Organization Name Field Information Industry/Sector Primary Location Number of Employees Operating Hours Date Plan Created Last Updated Next Review Date Plan Version 04 SECTION 2. CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM (CMT) ROLES Table 2: Specific individuals are assigned to each role to ensure a clear chain of command. Role Name Department Primary Contact Responsibilities Crisis Manager /Team Leader Leads crisis response, makes final decisions, coordinates all teams Communications Coordinator Manages internal/external communication, media relations Finance Officer Manages crisis budget, tracks expenses, approves emergency spending HR Representative Supports employees, coordinates staffing,manages assistance programs IT Consultant Secures systems, protects data, develops IT contingency plans