---
title: Start a crisis event
description: Unlike an exercise event, a crisis event strikes suddenly. Your business must be equipped to face the challenge and must be able to recover the critical business functions quickly to save you from business loss.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/governance-risk-compliance/start-crisis-event.html
release: australia
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Structured workflows for Exercise and Crisis Management, Using BCM Classic Workspace, Manage, Business Continuity Management, Governance, Risk, and Compliance]
---

# Start a crisis event

Unlike an exercise event, a crisis event strikes suddenly. Your business must be equipped to face the challenge and must be able to recover the critical business functions quickly to save you from business loss.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn\_bcm.planner, sn\_bcm.program\_manager

## About this task

You may not have a plan ready for a crisis as it strikes suddenly without prior notice. However, you can have an event ready and add tasks to the crisis event depending on the requirement.

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **Business Continuity** > **Business Continuity Workspace**.

2.  Click the **Start a Crisis Event** link in the **Actions** section.

3.  On the modal form, fill in the fields.

    |Field|Description|
    |-----|-----------|
    |Short description|Name of the crisis event.|
    |Assigned to|Auto-populates the name of the user who created the crisis event. As a BCM program manager you can update the field.|
    |Description|Detailed description of the crisis event.|

4.  Click **Submit**.

    The crisis event is created and is in **Pending** state.