Get Moving on Disaster Plans, Chamber Business Group Urges
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center recently joined other business leaders in urging state emergency management agencies and other responders to upgrade their emergency preparedness and response.
"Improving our emergency response strategies would prevent the loss of billions of dollars in future damages and business interruptions, which is typical of major disasters," said BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan. "Now is the time to advance 'disaster 2.0' principles—focusing on readiness and resiliency, rebuilding communities to be more sustainable, and educating the different sectors on how to work together effectively."
The center and members of its corporate Disaster Assistance and Recovery working group met with 120 officials last week to address improving recovery strategies at all levels. The participants recommended creating a system that does a better job of aligning sustainable development and disaster preparedness and recovery; and also creating state and local networks that plan for community recovery before disasters happen.
Participants in the meeting included Daniel Alesch, Ph.D., emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay; Jane Bullock, co-founder of Bullock and Haddow LLC; Michael Gallis, principal at Michael Gallis and Associates. Presentations available via this site included "The 10 Recovery Policies Every State Should Have" and "Disaster Recommendations for the Incoming Administration."