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BRT Meets with NOAA, American Red Cross to Prepare Disaster Response and Recovery Plans

Washington, D.C. –17 CEOs from the Business Roundtable’s Partnership for Disaster Response met with Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., Undersecretary of Commerce for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and Mark Everson, newly appointed President and CEO of the American Red Cross, to discuss the outlook for the 2007 hurricane season and possible areas of collaboration. NOAA projects a 75 percent chance of an above-normal season for the Atlantic coast, with a predicted 13-17 named storms, 7-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 major hurricanes. Lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina and the Asian Tsunami proved that preparation and leadership by the business community can have a powerful impact on the speed and success of response efforts in the wake of a disaster.

“Our companies can be an important vehicle for educating the public – starting with our own workforce – about what to do to better prepare for a disaster. Advance planning can help protect our employees, businesses and communities and reduce the impact of a disaster,” said Richard L. Keyser, CEO of Grainger and Chairman of the Partnership for Disaster Response.

The Partnership’s educational guides and resources are available on its website – www.respondtodisaster.org – and include:

  • Company best practices on disaster preparedness and response
  • Guidance for developing employee volunteer and matching gifts programs
  • Advice on HR benefits and financial issues concerning employees who may be affected by a disaster
  • Strategies for tracking employees during a disaster
  • Information on relief agencies and how best to support their work

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