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Businesses must aid in disaster
By Bill Buratto
Friday, June 1, 2007

It's all about recovery. The sooner a region's economy gets moving, the sooner people's lives get back to normal.
It's easy to avoid thinking about preparing for disasters, but today's reality is that businesses in Ventura County need to be prepared. It's also easy to think that local government and other first responders will keep us safe.

I have the privilege of serving on the Sheriff's Emergency Management System Task Force. This group is composed of senior-level personnel from the Sheriff's Department, Fire Department, county of Ventura, cities, Naval Base Ventura County and the Red Cross. Ventura County is fortunate to have these professionals who are dedicated to our public safety in preparing for disasters. But, they cannot do it alone. Preparedness is everyone's responsibility.

Triad, Ventura County Economic Development Association's new initiative that focuses on disaster preparedness, is hosting an all-day conference June 20 at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Oxnard. (see attached registration form for "Dodging Katrina, Part 2"

This conference will continue the education and dialogue began last October at the VCEDA Business Outlook Conference. It will feature Irwin Redlener, executive director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Mailman School of Business, Columbia University, and author of "Americans at Risk," as the luncheon keynote speaker. There will be a panel discussion on the role of business in disasters as well as a series of workshops to give business people the information they need to better prepare for disasters.

I encourage all Ventura County businesses to assess their level of preparedness and what they can contribute in times of disaster.

In preparing for disasters, we need to focus on two aspects: preparing to respond and preparing to recover. The business community has a role in both, but it is recovery where the business community has the greatest impact and the most at stake.

In my view, businesses have three areas of responsibility in preparing for disasters.

The first is the responsibility for business continuity. Every business should have plans, policies and procedures to ensure that business operations resume quickly after a disaster.

The second is responsibility to employees. Businesses must educate employees to prepare and respond to disasters. Employees should be encouraged to have their families prepared as well. After a disaster, it is natural for people to focus on family safety. The better-prepared employees are at home, the quicker they'll be able to begin working again.

Finally, responsibility to the community. The private sector needs to be engaged with local officials in planning and preparing for disasters. The private sector controls 80 percent of the region's resources. Every business should ask the question: "What do I have that can help in response and recovery?" It might be recreational vehicles that could be made available, or storage space for vaccines and other medical supplies, or lumber, fencing and other materials, or communications equipment. It is important to have these and other resources identified and arranged for in order to ensure a more rapid response and recovery.

We all have a responsibility to keep Ventura County safe.

Bill Buratto, of Thousand Oaks, is president and chief executive officer of the Ventura County Economic Development Association.

© 2007 Ventura County Star
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VCEDA
1601 Carmen Drive, Suite 215 Camarillo, CA 93010

805-388-3457 phone 805-388-9972 fax

www.vceda.org

Dodging Katrina: Part 2

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

7:30 a.m Registration – 3:00 p.m. Reception

Residence Inn by Marriott, Oxnard

Keynote: Dr. Irwin Redlener, Executive Director, National Center

for Disaster Preparedness and author of “Americans at Risk”

Panel: The Role of Business in Disaster Preparedness

Workshops: Pandemic Flu, Business Continuity, Understanding

Command and Control and The Role of the Military

Price: $135 for Triad and VCEDA members, $175 for non members

Register: Call 805-388-3457 or info@vceda.org

Sponsors: Ventura County Public Health Department, The Gas Company

Partners: Rotary Club of Camarillo, Rotary Club of Ojai West, Rotary Club of Ojai

Name

Company

Address

City, State, Zip

Phone Fax Email

􀂉 $135.00 – I’m a VCEDA or Triad member 􀂉 $175.00 – I’m not a member

Card Number Exp Date _______

Name on Card