Did your incident planning weather the storm

In the wake of Storm Boelo, the question for many UK organisations is how their emergency communications would hold up when put to the test.

Storm Boelo brought strong winds and heavy rain to the UK, with disruption to transport services and roads blocked by fallen trees. For organisations responsible for keeping people safe and essential services running, the recovery period offers an opportunity to review how their incident plans performed.

Were the right people alerted quickly? Could teams reach colleagues outside normal working hours? And if a primary communication channel had become unavailable, was there a tested alternative?

Critico's UK National Paging Network experienced no loss of service during Storm Boelo

That continuity reinforces the role of dedicated paging within a broader critical communications strategy. Critico owns, operates and maintains the UK's only National Paging Network, providing a dedicated route for critical alerts without relying on public mobile networks for the paging transmission.

For healthcare providers, industrial operators, utilities and other organisations managing time-sensitive incidents, the ability to reach response teams is a fundamental part of operational resilience.

Turning a storm review into practical action

An effective review should examine the full journey from identifying an incident to getting the right people to act. Critico encourages organisations to consider five questions:

• Who needs to know, and when? Confirm alerting responsibilities, escalation routes and arrangements for nights, weekends and staff absence.
• What do your communication channels depend on? Identify shared reliance on mobile networks, internet access, local power or a single platform.
• Can you raise the alarm if your usual systems are unavailable? Test alternative ways to initiate and receive critical messages.
• What happens if someone does not respond? Define how teams confirm availability and escalate to another responder, using channels that support acknowledgement where needed.
• When was the plan last exercised? Test realistic scenarios, including power disruption, unavailable systems and teams working across multiple locations.

Having several communication tools does not automatically provide resilience. Organisations need to understand how those tools work together, where they share dependencies and whether staff can use them under pressure.

Dedicated paging can provide an additional communication route alongside mobile, voice and digital services. Its value is strongest when it forms part of a clear, rehearsed response plan, supported by coverage checks, maintained devices and up-to-date contact groups.

As organisations review their experience of Storm Boelo, the priority is to capture lessons and turn them into action before the next incident.

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Looking to review your communication resilience strategy?

How did your communications plan perform - and what will you strengthen before the next storm?

Speak to Critico about the UK National Paging Network and how dedicated paging and our other solutions can support your organisation's critical communications strategy.