U.S. Chamber Announces Guidelines for Business Disaster Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Business Civic Leadership Center, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced its disaster assistance communication and coordination plans for the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. The announcement was made at a BCLC forum with 120 leading disaster assistance officials from companies, federal government agencies, and relief organizations, held in Washington, D.C.

"One of the lessons learned from last year was that it is important to review plans and practice them before a major disaster strikes," said Stephen Jordan, BCLC executive director. "We believe that the authorities are adequately equipped to respond to most disasters, but the business community wants to be ready to support them when necessary."

If the federal government requests private sector assistance, BCLC will implement a range of services based on the profile of the disaster. These services may include all or some of the following: keeper of record of U.S. corporate contributions, establishment of a liaison office to support public-private partnerships, information briefings, business-to-business offers and needs matching, support for small business emergency loans, and other types of technical assistance.

BCLC will distribute relevant information through press releases, its Web site (www.uschamber.com/bclc), and the U.S. Chamber network of 3 million businesses and thousands of local chambers, trade associations, and American chambers of commerce overseas.

BCLC has been involved with business disaster response issues since 1998. According to BCLC records, business disaster aid in 2005 reached an unprecedented $1.9 billion, including contributions for the Southeast Asia tsunami, Gulf Coast hurricanes, Pakistan-India earthquake, and other natural disasters around the world.

BCLC is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and serves as a resource and voice for businesses and their social and philanthropic interests. It is the Chamber's lead agency for corporate disaster assistance issues. The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million business and organizations of every size, sector and region.

www.uschamber.com

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