U.S. Chamber Helps Businesses Prepare for Gustav

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber's Business Civic Leadership Center has activated its National Disaster Help Desk for Business (1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP) in preparation for what is expected to be Hurricane Gustav's direct hit in the Gulf Coast region.

» View BCLC's Hurricane Gustav page

"Based on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, businesses across the country are already mobilizing to help the Gulf Coast prepare for Gustav," said BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan. "We are prepared to do what is necessary to help the appropriate authorities minimize the impact of the storm."

Companies that want to be involved in potential relief and recovery efforts are urged to contact the Help Desk. Participating businesses will be asked to help afflicted companies with re-openings, infrastructure rebuilding, and job training; coordinate with established donations-management officials to send bulk donations; work with local emergency management offices for appropriate credentialing needed to enter a disaster zone; and avoid funding startup organizations and instead work with established charitable partners.

Businesses in need of assistance following the storm are also encouraged to call the Help Desk.

Tropical Storm Gustav is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane and hit the U.S. Gulf Coast early next week. If necessary, BCLC will deploy a donations coordinator and an economic-impact research team, similar to its efforts after the 2008 Iowa flooding and the 2007 southern California wildfires.

In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita alone, U.S. businesses pledged more than $1.2 billion in cash and in-kind assistance in the months after the storms.

The National Disaster Help Desk for Business is made possible by funding from the Office Depot Foundation. Further funding for BCLC's Disaster Assistance and Recovery program comes from businesses actively involved as disasters, including Allstate and the UPS Foundation.

BCLC is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and manages the U.S. Chamber's Disaster Assistance and Recovery program and serves as a resource and voice for businesses and their social and philanthropic interests. 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.