Whataburger’s Best Practices for Emergency Management
Whataburger is a household name and a staple of communities across the country. With 860 quick-service restaurants in 14 states and more than 50,000 employees to protect, safety is a top priority for the beloved burger chain 24/7.
Ron Derrick, Corporate Senior Emergency Manager, leads Whataburger’s robust command center and is responsible for all escalated incidents at the restaurants, learning centers, and corporate offices. His passion for emergency management was inspired by his 30-year career in fire and EMS, and he incorporates that passion into Whataburger’s preparedness and response plans to help mitigate issues before they happen.
In this episode, Ron describes:
- How Whataburger’s contact center serves as a “911” for all locations to ask questions or report disruptions
- The structure of Whataburger’s command center that triages any escalated incidents
- Why an effective communication matrix expedites crisis response and recovery
- The importance of continuously monitoring and identifying threats to stay ahead of potential emergencies
- How Whataburger supports their local communities after natural disasters
The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.
You can find this interview and many more by following The Employee Safety Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or subscribing here.

More Episodes You May Be Interested In
-
Inside U.S. Preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic GamesBehind every Olympic Games is years of careful planning to keep athletes, officials, and spectators safe. As the 2026 Winter Olympic Games kick off in Italy, security efforts stretch far beyond the venues, spanning multiple regions, agencies, and international partners. Nick Fanelli, Olympic Security Coordinator at the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), joins the show to…
-
Modernizing Executive Protection With Digital and Protective IntelligenceExecutive protection is evolving from traditional bodyguard work to a more intelligent, data-driven discipline that enables organizations to prevent threats before they materialize. Steve Hernandez, CEO of The North Group, shares how modern executive protection programs rely on predictive intelligence, thorough threat assessments, and a clear understanding of the organization’s risk profile. Listen to learn:…
-
Top Threats Shaping Organizational Risk in 2026Organizations faced a record number of interconnected threats in 2025, from global political volatility and multi-city protests to emerging technology disruptions and extreme weather events. The sheer volume and variety of incidents forced leaders to rethink how they monitor risk, protect employees, and maintain business continuity in an increasingly unpredictable world. In this episode, AlertMedia’s…



