About Us
We’ve led the development of international standards on emergency management, business continuity, and crisis management. We’ve written the books. We've taught at the graduate level, for state government, and for professional certification.
Standards Development
Published
Books
Professional Certifications
“Our mission is to safeguard people, protect property, minimize business interruption, and protect reputations. Our vision is to thoroughly understand each client’s business and become a long-term trusted adviser.”
Our Experience
We have worked in a diverse range of industries for more than 35 years.
The foundation of our expertise is a sound understanding of hazards and impacts. Loss prevention, hazard mitigation, risk financing, emergency management, business continuity, and crisis management programs are all built on that foundation. Our experience comes from working within corporate risk management, the insurance industry, the public sector, and working with numerous clients in most major industries.
Public & Private Schools (K-12)
Preparedness, LLC has worked with dozens of public, private, and parochial schools from Massachusetts to Minnesota. Our services have included all aspects of emergency management including:
- School safety and security assessments
- Organizing school and district-level organizations for emergency response and crisis management
- Writing classroom, school, and district emergency procedures, emergency operations plans, and crisis management and communications plans
- Writing emergency planning information for parents and guardians and content for district websites
- Training teachers, school teams, and superintendents’ staff.
- Designing, facilitating, and evaluating tabletop exercises
- Designing, controlling, and evaluating full-scale “active shooter” exercises
We bring together public safety and health partners to build a program for sustainability over time. Assessments and training are conducted in “train-the-trainer” mode, so staff can learn how to continue efforts after the project is complete. We're proud of our continuing relationship with many districts.
Colleges & Universities
Preparedness, LLC has worked with many colleges and universities in the development, implementation, and evaluation of their emergency management programs. Our services have included:
- Writing emergency operations plans
- Combining emergency planning with facility information and publishing easy to navigate digital plans
- Training administration and staff members on incident command and emergency procedures
- Designing, facilitating, and evaluating orientation and tabletop exercises to familiarize team members and leadership about plans and how to execute during an emergency
- Collaborating with administration, department heads, and public safety to evaluate emergency management capabilities
- Developing recommendations and a blue print for program improvement
Local and County Government
City, town, and county government has responsibility for protecting the citizens of its jurisdiction. At the same time they have many employees that must be safeguarded; and buildings and essential functions that must be protected. In times of disaster, continuity of government must be maintained and essential services must continue—even though government buildings, systems, and equipment have been damaged. Preparedness, LLC has worked with city, town, and county governments to assess threats and hazards to employees, facilities, and the systems that support essential functions. We have facilitated the identification of essential functions and developed emergency response and continuity of operations plans. Our services have included:
- Loss prevention surveys including security and vulnerability analyses
- Emergency response plans
- Employee training
- Drills and exercises
- Continuity of operations plan (COOP) development and evaluation
Real Estate & Property Management
Real estate investment trusts, developers, and property managers strive to manage safe, secure, and regulatory-compliant buildings. Numerous threats and hazards— some that vary by geography; building size, height, or occupancy—require specific risk strategies. An understanding of risk; and the applicable codes, standards, and regulations determines the required safety, security, fire protection, and life safety capabilities. Preparedness, LLC has been fortunate to work with some of the larger REITs in the USA and other large, regional developers and property managers. Our close working relationship with risk managers and property managers has enabled us to provide the following services:
- Loss prevention surveys that address safety, security, and property protection
- Reports that include regulatory citations and detailed specifications for improvements
- Code consultation on the latest fire and life safety codes
- Loss prevention program development and training for staff
- Emergency and life safety plans, training, and facilitation of drills and exercises
- Business continuity plan development
Manufacturing
Preparedness, LLC has more than 35 years of experience in loss prevention, hazard mitigation, emergency response, and business continuity planning in major industries and facilities around the world. We assess process hazards and offer recommendations for protection based on codes, standards, regulations, and risk management objectives. Our services include:
- Loss prevention surveys, hazard analysis, and codes and standards conformity assessments
- Business interruption, interdependency, and loss estimates studies
- Database of property risk information for risk prioritization, improvement, and premium allocation
- Strategies and programs for loss prevention, hazard mitigation, and risk improvement
- Fire protection system design specifications
- Supply chain risk assessments
- Emergency operations program needs assessment, program development and implementation
- Business continuity program development
Distribution Centers
Distribution centers present fire protection challenges related to the storage of large volumes of combustible materials and and the warehousing of hazardous materials.
Preparedness, LLC has extensive experience with distribution centers for diverse manufacturers including chemical manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Preparedness, LLC’s understanding of fire codes and standards and insurer protection requirements has enabled us to assist many companies. Our services include:
- Property loss prevention surveys that provide detailed recommendations for improvement
- Fire protection specifications for new or upgraded protection
- Assessment of compliance with fire codes and standards
- Needs assessment to determine the most appropriate emergency response capabilities
- Emergency operations plan development
- Business continuity plan development
Nonprofit Organizations
Preparedness, LLC has worked with some non-profits that employ of hundreds of people in offices and other facilities. We have also worked with smaller social and community service organizations that provide critical services to individuals and families. All of these organizations care deeply about those that they serve and they strive to provide safe and secure facilities and comply with regulations and the standards tied to their funding. Preparedness, LLC is sensitive to the needs, culture, and challenges faced by non-profits. We have provided a variety of services to meet their needs:
- Loss prevention surveys
- Security and vulnerability assessments
- Recommendations for physical and operational security, fire protection, and life safety
- Development of emergency response plans
- Training of staff
- Tabletop exercises
Health Care
Health care institutions face numerous regulations from the Federal government including the recently promulgated CMS Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers. Standards including NFPA 99 Health Care Facilities Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code© are incorporated into regulations. State fire codes and occupational safety and health regulations also dictate requirements. Preparedness, LLC has worked with health care institutions on their emergency management programs. Our knowledge of Federal regulations and NFPA codes and standards provides the foundation to identify needs, assess current programs, and identify any gaps. Our services include:
- Emergency management program evaluations using CMS regulations, NFPA 1600, NFPA 99 (Chapter 12), and local fire code requirements as criteria
- Program assessment report with findings and recommendations for program improvement
Chemical, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences
Chemical, pharmaceutical, and life sciences companies are critical to the quality of life. Operations involving highly hazardous materials are an inherent risk. High levels of life safety, fire protection, security, and emergency preparedness are required to safeguard employees and protect operations and the environment. Business continuity plans are also essential to minimize downtime. Preparedness, LLC has years of experience with chemical, pharmaceutical, and life science manufacturers and distributors. Our services have included:
- Property loss prevention surveys
- Business interruption and interdependency analyses
- Risk assessments and compilation of a risk assessment database with common criteria and methodology for cross-department rating of risk
- Development of specifications for fire protection systems
- Emergency management program development
- Training, drill, and exercise development, facilitation, and evaluation
- Emergency management program evaluations and needs assessments
Oil & Gas Industry
Preparedness, LLC has worked with some of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Our role in international standards development, and our knowledge of emergency management, business continuity, and crisis management programs has enabled us to develop client-specific training for executives, business managers, and department staff. We have also been engaged to develop business continuity plans for plant operations. Our services have included:
- Customized training programs for executives, business managers, and staff incorporating client policies, programs, and procedures and based on international standards and professional practices
- Emergency management, business continuity, and crisis management program development
- Needs assessments and emergency management, business continuity, and crisis management program evaluations
Donald L. Schmidt, ARM, CBCP, MCP, CBCLA, CEM©
CEO of Preparedness, LLC
Donald L. Schmidt has over 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors. He has extensive experience in risk assessment, loss prevention, hazard mitigation, emergency management, business continuity, and crisis management planning within a diverse range of global industries.
He is a published author of multiple books and numerous articles on the subjects of risk management, emergency management, business continuity, and terrorism. For more than two decades he has helped to write important standards on disaster/emergency management and business continuity and has chaired the technical committee that writes the USA's national preparedness standard. He is an experienced educator and professional development instructor. He has attained numerous certifications in risk management, emergency management, business continuity, and auditing.
Don's past work experience includes nearly 25 years of service within the HPR insurance industry, corporate risk management, and progressive roles within the consulting arm of a global insurance intermediary. He is a proud alum of the College Park Fire Department on the campus of the University of Maryland and life member of the Niantic, CT Fire Department.
