Time to Sweat the Small Stuff: Leveraging Small-Scale Emergencies for Large-Scale Preparedness 

When planning for disaster, everyone always first thinks of “the big one”—the major incident, the 500-year storm, or that emergency that will be on the front page of the newspaper. The reality of emergency management, however, is far more mundane. Small scale impacts, strained daily operations, or localized emergencies not only occur far more frequently, but often strain healthcare facilities as much as the large-scale incident.  From the initial steps of risk assessment and hazard vulnerability assessment, Emergency Managers should begin to think of not only what truly affects one’s facilities, but the unique ways in which daily operations quickly escalate into small-scale emergencies. By intentionally incorporating these small-scale events into preparedness activities, organizations can validate plans, strengthen incident management processes, identify capability gaps, and build a culture where emergency management is integrated into daily operations rather than reserved for rare catastrophic events. This presentation will explore practical strategies for incorporating routine emergencies into emergency management programs, demonstrating how everyday incidents can serve as opportunities to train staff, exercise plans, engage stakeholders, and continuously improve organizational resilience. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches for transforming common operational challenges into meaningful preparedness activities that strengthen readiness for both everyday emergencies and large-scale disasters.