[CM] [SIT] [E3] [PB] [CS] [1] Post-Crisis for Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips

Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips – Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

This chapter details specific actions to take before, during, and after a Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

Detailed Steps After the Crisis

Restore and Return Home

Purpose

The objective of the post-crisis phase is to transition SIT from emergency response into recovery, restoration, and continuous improvement.

Following a mass casualty event involving students overseas, SIT must focus not only on operational recovery but also on the physical, emotional, academic, reputational, and institutional impacts arising from the incident.

Recovery activities should support affected students and families, restore confidence among stakeholders, ensure continuity of university operations, and strengthen institutional resilience through lessons learned.

The recovery phase should continue until affected individuals receive appropriate support, operational activities are stabilised, and all improvement actions have been implemented.

Stage 1: Transition from Response to Recovery

Objective

Formally transition from crisis response activities to structured recovery management.

Step 1.1 Establish Recovery Management Team

The Crisis Management Team shall determine when operational response activities can transition into recovery.

Establish:

Step 1.2 Define Recovery Priorities

Priorities:

1. Student welfare
2. Family support
3. Medical recovery
4. Student repatriation
5. Academic continuity
6. Staff welfare
7. Reputation recovery
8. Lessons learned

Deliverable

Recovery Action Plan

Stage 2: Student Repatriation and Medical Recovery

Objective

Safely return affected students and ensure continuity of medical care.

Step 2.1 Coordinate Repatriation

Actions:

• confirm medical fitness for travel

• coordinate medical evacuation where necessary

• arrange flights and transport

• coordinate immigration support

• engage insurers

Step 2.2 Medical Follow-up Support

Track:

• treatment requirements
• specialist referrals
• rehabilitation needs
• long-term medical support
• insurance claims

Step 2.3 Monitor Ongoing Casualty Recovery

Maintain tracking:

Deliverable

Student Recovery Tracker

Stage 3: Family and Next-of-Kin Support

Objective

Provide continued support and care for affected families.

Step 3.1 Activate Family Assistance Support

Provide:

• accommodation assistance
• transportation arrangements
• liaison officers
• administrative assistance
• travel support

Step 3.2 Conduct Ongoing Family Communications

Actions:

• establish scheduled updates
• provide contact points
• coordinate medical updates
• support documentation needs

Step 3.3 Fatality Support Procedures

Where fatalities occur:

Provide support for:

• repatriation arrangements
• funeral coordination
• administrative requirements
• memorial activities
• grief counselling

Deliverable

Family Support Case Register

Stage 4: Psychological and Emotional Recovery

Objective

Address emotional and psychological impacts on students, staff, and families.

Step 4.1 Conduct Psychological Risk Assessment

Identify:

• trauma symptoms
• acute stress
• anxiety
• grief reactions
• post-traumatic stress indicators

Step 4.2 Provide Counselling Services

Support groups:

Students

• individual counselling
• peer support
• trauma intervention

Staff

• employee assistance programmes
• counselling

Families

• grief counselling
• emotional support

Step 4.3 Conduct Wellness Monitoring

Monitor:

• absenteeism
• emotional behaviour
• stress indicators
• wellbeing concerns

Deliverable

Psychological Recovery Programme

Stage 5: Restore Academic Operations and Student Continuity

Objective

Minimise educational disruption and support student progression.

Step 5.1 Assess Academic Impacts

Review:

• missed activities
• overseas programme disruptions
• attendance impact
• examinations
• assignments
• internships

Step 5.2 Develop Academic Recovery Measures

Possible actions:

• deferred assessments
• make-up classes
• online alternatives
• extensions
• modified academic schedules

Step 5.3 Coordinate Faculty Support

Engage:

• programme leaders
• faculty members
• academic advisors

Deliverable

Academic Recovery Plan

Stage 6: Internal and External Communication Recovery

Objective

Maintain confidence and transparency while reducing misinformation.

Step 6.1 Continue Stakeholder Communications

Communicate with:

Step 6.2 Monitor Public Sentiment

Monitor:

• social media
• news coverage
• stakeholder feedback
• online discussions

Identify:

• misinformation
• reputational concerns
• public perceptions

Deliverable

Stakeholder Communication Report

Stage 7: Reputation Recovery and Confidence Restoration

Objective

Restore stakeholder trust and demonstrate institutional leadership.

Step 7.1 Develop Reputation Recovery Strategy

Actions:

• leadership messages
• stakeholder engagement
• transparent reporting
• public updates
• memorial support initiatives

Step 7.2 Conduct Engagement Activities

Examples:

• student forums
• parent briefings
• partner engagement sessions
• leadership town halls

Deliverable

Reputation Recovery Plan

Stage 8: Administrative, Insurance and Legal Closure

Objective

Resolve operational and administrative obligations.

Step 8.1 Coordinate Claims and Documentation

Review:

• medical claims

• travel claims

• evacuation claims

• compensation matters

• insurance requirements

Step 8.2 Preserve Documentation

Maintain:

• incident records
• casualty reports
• communication logs
• financial records
• investigation reports

Step 8.3 Conduct Legal Review

Assess:

• liabilities
• compliance issues
• contractual implications
• policy gaps

Deliverable

Post-Incident Administrative Closure Report

Stage 9: Conduct Post-Incident Review

Objective

Understand performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Step 9.1 Conduct After Action Review

Review:

• What happened?

• Why did it happen?

• What worked well?

• What challenges occurred?

• What gaps emerged?

Step 9.2 Conduct Root Cause Analysis

Assess:

• planning assumptions
• response effectiveness
• communications
• escalation decisions
• coordination issues

Methods:

• Five Whys
• Fishbone Analysis
• Timeline analysis

Deliverable

After Action Review Report

Stage 10: Lessons Learned and Continuous Improvement

Objective

Strengthen future crisis capability.

Step 10.1 Develop Improvement Plan

Identify:

• policy changes
• process improvements
• training requirements
• technology enhancements

Step 10.2 Update Plans and Procedures

Update:

• crisis plans
• travel procedures
• stakeholder contacts
• risk assessments
• communication templates

Step 10.3 Conduct Validation Exercises

Perform:

• tabletop exercises
• simulation exercises
• scenario retesting

Deliverable

Continuous Improvement Roadmap

Stage 11: Formal Crisis Closure

Objective

Formally conclude crisis activities.

Closure criteria

• All students are accounted for

• medical care stabilised

• Family support completed

• academic activities restored

• claims resolved

• lessons learned completed

Approval

Recovery Director and SIT Leadership sign-off

Deliverable

Crisis Closure Report

End-State of Post-Crisis Phase

The post-crisis phase concludes when SIT has restored operational stability, supported affected individuals and families, resumed academic activities, completed administrative obligations, and embedded lessons learned into future preparedness efforts.

The university should emerge with stronger crisis-management capabilities, enhanced institutional resilience, and greater confidence among students, families, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Click the icon for the crisis management playbook for the three stages: Pre-, During-, and Post-crisis for the Managing Mass Casualty Crisis Scenario for Student Overseas Trips

Reference Guide

Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Crisis Management Plan. Business Continuity Management Specialist Series (1st ed., p. 192). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/ Hybrid Learning Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].