|
BUILDING A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
By James L. Witt, Director of Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)
For too long, our nation's emergency management system
has relied almost exclusively on government and volunteer groups to assist
communities in preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters.
The time has come for the business community to become
a full partner in our nation's emergency management system. The health
and safety of our citizens; the vitality and the future of our communities
depend on it.
WHY BUSINESS SECTOR INVOLVEMENT?
One of FEMA's principal strategic goals is to "create
an emergency management partnership with other federal agencies, state
and local governments, volunteer organizations and the private sector
to better serve our customers."
The business community has a clear stake in the health,
personal and economic security of the community at large. The people who
live in our nation's communities comprise the employee and customer base
for most businesses.
When a disaster strikes, individual businesses may
survive and recover operations quickly. But the recovery is not complete
if...
• Employees cant get to work because they cant travel
on the roads
• Electricity and water aren't available
• Customers can't buy products and services because debris has not been
removed
• Order and safety have not been restored.
Conversely, individuals and communities have a stake
in the health and security of the business community. The business community
provides jobs and taxes that have a direct impact on the quality of life
in any given community.
When disaster strikes, individuals and communities
may survive and recover quickly. But the recovery will not be complete
if the business community is destroyed and unable to recover. Jobs will
be lost, the tax base decimated and the community at large may never recover.
Clearly, the business community and the community
at large are interdependent. It's just common sense and is mutually beneficial
for any emergency management activities to be cooperatively coordinated
and implemented.
The bottom line is that a public/private partnership
in emergency management will increase the likelihood that communities
and businesses will survive and recover from disasters.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FEMA's goal is to develop a structure for a public/private emergency management
partnership that facilitates communications and coordination between government
and the business community not only during a disaster but also in shaping
and implementing preparedness and mitigation initiatives.
As part of this partnership, FEMA will work to educate
the business sector on their risks and how to mitigate and prepare for
these 'risks,' to facilitate the involvement of the business sector at
the local level in developing disaster resistant communities and to leverage
business sector resources for emergency management initiatives.
The possibilities for a public/private partnership
in emergency management are limitless. That is why I encourage readers
to share their ideas and suggestions with us.
Please contact George Haddow, FEMA's Business Liaison:
by tel: (202) 646-3291, by email at ghaddow@fema.gov
or by mail at: FEMA, 500 C St., SW, Room 832, Washington, DC 20472.
CONCLUSION
FEMA's mission is "to reduce the loss of life and
property and protect our institutions from all hazards by leading and
supporting the nation in a comprehensive risk-based emergency management
program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery."
To successfully fulfill this mission, the business
community must become a full partner in our nation's emergency management
system.
This partnership for Emergency Management will ensure
that we build the strongest possible system to protect and serve our nation's
communities.
It is in the best interest of our people and the business
community and we at FEMA are committed to making it a reality.
|
