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Wal-Mart's disaster priorities served its communities well during and after Katrina, global security chief says
Following the 9/11 attacks, the world's largest retailer established three priorities to follow in the wake of any disaster that affects any local community it serves, Wal-Mart's global security chief told an audience of 40 on Nov. 16 at the George Bush Presidential Library on the Texas A&M University Campus.
"After 9/11 we all reexamined our emergency management plans: in our homes, in our
businesses and in every aspect of our lives," said Ken Senser, Senior Vice President for
Global Security, Travel and Aviation. "After that tragedy, planning for disasters became
more of an imperative, and getting the buy-in of folks at the top became a lot easier. We
met with our CEO to establish Wal-Mart’s priorities in times of disaster."
These priorities came into play as Wal-Mart responded to the devestation created by
Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The first priority is to ensure the safety of Wal-Mart's customers, Senser said.
"We employ more than 1.8 million people around the world," he said."Each week, more than 176
million customers come through our doors. More than 84 percent of all Americans will find
themselves in a Wal-Mart store at least once this year. Clearly, our company has a
tremendous responsibility to make sure all of these individuals remain safe and out of
harm’s way."
Second is to reconstitute the company's business.
"Some within our company thought it should be less of a priority, especially in a situation
of extreme devastation or loss of life," Senser said. "But here’s what we concluded:
Immediately after a disaster, getting our business up and running so that we can provide
food, water, medicine and other necessities to those in need takes an enormous weight off
the shoulders of our first responders. If we are providing basic services to the general
public, our first responders are free to do other things, like rescuing disaster victims,
restoring electricity and water and maintaining order in the community."
The third priority is to continue serving Wal-Mart's communities.
"It’s about remaining in communities and continuing to serve them well after a disaster
strikes, Senser said. "It entails resuming our normal business operations, our regular
community interaction and our everyday service to the working families who rely on our
stores the most."
Senser shared videos that demonstrated how Wal-Mart associates put these priorities into
play
during and
after the Katrina disaster.
"At some point, you realize that you've moved beyond asking how much does it cost," Senser
said, "and you just start focusing on what needs to be done."
Photo: Ken Senser, global security chief for Wal-Mart Inc., greets audience members at a reception in the rotunda of the George Bush Presidential Library just prior to his lecture Nov. 16.
Event photos by Jean Wulfson, VPR Communications
Videos (presented during the Ken Senser lecture):
- Wal-Mart's emergency team responds to community's needs during Hurricane Katrina (Part One and Part Two)
- Store employees deal with devastation in Waveland, Miss.
- Express concept brings Wal-Mart back to Waveland after the storm.