Left of Bang is where you want to focus; it’s where you should spend most of your time and energy…

Prepare… Begin with a thorough analysis. Where and when are you most vulnerable? What and whom is it that you most want to protect? What are the costs of loss?

Create a detailed plan. What is needed to prevent the threat, or the incident?

Prevent… Now that you have a plan, it is time to act! Put in place safety features. For a school, healthcare facility or house of worship, it will likely encompass limiting access, posting guards, and reinforcing windows and doors. For an individual, it means using safe routes when you are out in public, walking to your car with a friend, and, at all times practicing situational awareness. At home, there specific steps you can take to secure your home, and ensure your safety. (Did you know that replacing common screws in your door strike plate with 3 1/2 “ screws requires 17 times more force to break in?)

Protect… Training - there simply is no substitute. Training is crucial to preventing incidents from occurring and vital to protection when a threat is detected. Knowing in advance how you will respond, who you will notify, and what actions to take when a threat is detected may just save your life, those whom you care about, or those who are entrusted to you.

Bang! is Responding to the incident as it is occurring. It’s too late to prepare for, or prevent the attack!

Right of Bang - is everything that occurs after the incident. This includes recovery, repairing and restoration.

Left of Bang - is everything that occurs to Prepare, Prevent and Protect you, your organization and what is most important to you prior to the incident.