RA Will Take a Look at Risk Management

After last month's derecho and subsequent power outages wreaked havoc on Reston businesses and facilities, will now be organizing a more formal risk management plan.

The board will appoint a group of directors to work with RA staff to review procedures and formulate a new plan. RA President Ken Knueven said at a board meeting July 12 that RA should have a more organized plan for many "what-ifs?"

"The storm got us thinking we do have many aspects of continuity in place, " Knueven said. "But if the building is under five feet of water and no one can get to it, what do we do?"

No Reston Association facilities were badly damaged in the storm's aftermath, but many were closed for several days with power outages and nearly 200 trees fell on RA property.

Knueven said the plan should look at all aspects of emergency situations, including "people, financials, media, constituents."

"We need to look at the business processes," he said. "Where are we vulnerable?What is catastrophic? What happens tomorrow if this board desolves into dust right now? What does Reston do?"