The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), recently hosted a forum titled, "Will Your Business Survive an Earthquake," for the Encino Chamber of Commerce in California.
QuakeSmart was developed by FEMA around the premise that no community can fully recover from a damaging earthquake until its businesses are back and running. Because local businesses may not be as prepared to resume commercial activity, getting them to mitigate for earthquake loss has become an economic priority. "We want at-risk businesses to become 'QuakeSmart,'" said Nancy Ward, regional administrator of FEMA Region IX. "Being a QuakeSmart business means knowing your risk, making a plan, and taking action."
QuakeSmart forums feature leading national experts who address topics such as Earthquake Vulnerability-Protecting Your Investment, What a Small Business Can Do NOW, Mitigation Resources for Business and Business Interruption Planning. Participants at the Encino, CA forum heard from a local business that provided a first-hand account of how mitigation helped them recovery more quickly following the Northridge earthquake.
The benefits to businesses that participate in the program and actively work to mitigate are substantial. Not only can business owners protect their and others' investments and recover more quickly from a disaster, they could also save on insurance premiums, substantially reduce the risk of injury or death for themselves, their employees and customers, and help create a more resilient community in which future investment is more attractive.
The QuakeSmart forum is one of many activities occurring during National Preparedness Month to promote public and government awareness of the critical importance of preparedness at every level.
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