September Marks 5th Annual National Preparedness Month
The month of September marks the 5th annual National Preparedness Month. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign (www.ready.gov) and with support from coalition members across the nation including a wide range of businesses and organizations, NPM is held to increase public awareness about emergency preparedness.
To remind the business owners about the importance of emergency preparedness, Ready Business--an extension of the Ready Campaign that is designed to help owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses prepare their employees, operations, and assets in the event of an emergency--is offering these factoids:
- At least one in four businesses affected by a disaster never reopens.
- According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all employers; provide approximately 75 percent of the net new jobs added to the economy; and represent 97 percent of all U.S. exporters.
- Small to medium-sized businesses in particular are most vulnerable following an emergency; having an emergency plan can help protect a company and maximize its potential to survive and recover after an incident.
The Ready Business section of www.ready.gov contains information for businesses on how to get started preparing their business for its unique needs during an emergency.