Business Leaders Call for Change in Disaster Response Strategies

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) joined with business leaders to urge 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."

BCLC and members of its corporate Disaster Assistance and Recovery working group met with 120 multi-sector officials to focus on ways to improve resiliency and long-term recovery strategies at the local, state, and national levels.

The participants put forward a recommended course of action, which includes:

• The creation of a system to better align sustainable development and disaster preparedness and recovery
• The introduction of state and local networks that plan for community recovery before disasters happen—not after

The participants included several of the nation's foremost disaster experts, including Daniel Alesch, Ph.D., emeritus professor at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay; Jane Bullock, co-founder of Bullock and Haddow LLC; Oliver Davidson, senior disaster advisor to BCLC and to the Human Society of the United States; and Michael Gallis, principal at Michael Gallis and Associates. Featured presentations included "The 10 Recovery Policies Every State Should Have" and "Disaster Recommendations for the Incoming Administration."

To view presentation material visit BCLC's website at www.uschamber.comhttp://www.uschamber.com/bclc/programs/disaster/2009_disasterforum.htm.

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. BCLC is 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 businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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