Level 1: Level 1 is considered the US normal, and as a standard of practice, should not apply to individuals and teams serving internationally.
Level 2: International normal readiness level. Standard overseas threat level. Level 2 situations are taken care of locally by the field team.
Level 3: Local Field Team manages the situation, but the team informs Reliant's International Crisis Manager by reporting the international incident so that Reliant can evaluate the situation. Typically at this level, the incident is localized and on a smaller scale. Reliant would not know of the incident without the field team informing us. Reliant would like to hear that "we are fine" and be available to help evaluate the situation and provide assistance if needed.
Level 4: Local Field Team still mostly manages the situation. As soon as possible, the team informs Reliant's International Crisis Manager by reporting the international incident and Reliant's ICMT is now actively involved in the decision-making and helping the field team directly.
Level 5: Management of the crisis is now beyond the capacity of the local field team to manage independently. Reliant's International Crisis Management Team or its pre-approved delegate is now managing the situation until the Local Field Team returns to a position to do so themselves. This is a major crisis resulting in ongoing disruption to field operations or the threat now inhibits the ability of the team to safely continue.
Specific Readiness Level To Determine Next Steps
| Level 5 | Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
Kidnapping and/or credible threats specifically or generally targeting members of the team or close associates of the team | Heightened kidnapping threat exists in the vicinity focused on western citizens The kidnapping threat impedes the ministry activity of the team | Heightened kidnapping threat exists in the vicinity not focused on western citizens | Generalized kidnapping threat exists in the region |
Steps to Reduce Probability and Consequences
- Practice situational awareness (Color Codes for Situational Awareness) and communicate routinely with the team leader
- Limit travel to high-risk areas
- If westerners are being targeted and one kidnapping occurs within close proximity of team facilities, then the Reliant Crisis Management Team will perform a new International Risk Assessment. If there are no specific threats on westerners, then a risk assessment is mandated after two kidnappings within close proximity of team facilities over a period of 6 months.
- Review Captivity Strategies
Applicable Corporate Policies
- Reference Kidnapping, Hostage-Taking, and Extortion
- Reliant will seek professional assistance from hostage negotiators and prioritize the safe return of personnel
- Family of the hostage will be relocated as soon as possible
- The ICMT will decide when and how to coordinate with government agencies
- Evacuations may be authorized and mandated at either the local, Self-Evacuation, or Reliant level.
- Know your Places of Refuge
- Confidentiality During Crisis Events
Crisis Resolution Protocol
- Determine the location and status of all other personnel
- As soon as you are able, begin documenting and gathering information
- Contact Reliant to report the incident: Crisis Reporting for International Incident
- Reliant will reach out to receive more details for their internal crisis report. Eventually, Reliant will share a communication tracking log that will serve as a way for team leaders and Shared Crisis Authority and Responsibility in Reliant Partnerships to all view communication updates between Reliant and the field team member
- The Team Leader will assign personnel to discover the basic facts of any potential kidnapping, identify the last known location of the victims, establish a time frame for when they were noted as missing, confirm their routes of travel leading up to the incident and locations they might have visited en route. These personnel should locate and contact any witnesses that might have observed the abduction.
- Contact local law enforcement to report the incident if approved by the International Crisis Manager, (The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) app has local "911" numbers you can call- See Helpful International Risk Management Resources)
- As a standard, Reliant as an organization does not pay ransom. If a kidnapper is asking for the payment of a ransom in order to release a Reliant team member, provide him/her with this number: 850-735-4268. As written above, Reliant will prioritize the safe return of all personnel and is therefore willing to negotiate with the kidnapper (with the assistance of a professional negotiator).
- If contacted by the captors prior to the arrival of a professional negotiator, pay attention to every detail. Furthermore, make every attempt to record the conversation. DO NOT NEGOTIATE without the third party advisors and International Crisis Manager’s approval.
- Evacuate any family members as soon as possible, preferably with a designated escort
- Shelter-in-Place, preferably in a common location, until the ICMT provides further instructions
