In almost all emergency situations there will be an immediate response to save lives before any kind of formal assessment takes place. This immediate action is often based on limited information that is available regarding the impact of the disaster in the initial days, and is dependent upon the Contingency Planning carried out by National Societies in coordination with others for a given disaster scenario. At the same time, as the immediate life-saving actions, assessment of damage and needs will start and allow to plan the rest of the response operation, through an Emergency Plan of Action. In parallel, National Societies have previously developed Business Continuity Plan to counter any potential or anticipated obstacles to the effective functioning of the SN, with the aim of ensuring that staff and assets are protected and can function in the event of a disaster/crisis.

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