Web Site Assists Disaster Response
8 November 2006 at 3:55 pm
The US-based Business Roundtable, an association of 160 chief executive officers of leading companies has launched a new Web site to help the business community better prepare its response to global disasters.
The Web site was created by the Roundtable’s Partnership for Disaster Response, a Task Force
dedicated to leveraging corporate resources to create a more effective response to natural disasters in the United States
and abroad.
The Business Roundtable describes the website at www.respondtodisaster.org as the first comprehensive clearinghouse
of information to help corporate respond effectively.
Bob Nardelli is the chairman of the Partnership for Disaster Response Task Force, which includes 30 Business
Roundtable CEOs from companies across a variety of industries, including telecommunications, manufacturing,
chemical, retail, insurance, health/medical, IT, financial services, transportation/logistics, energy and electric.
Nardelli says that of all the devastating lessons learned from the 2005 US hurricane season, perhaps the most important
one was the crucial role business plays in the long-term well-being of our communities.
He says that by combining diverse assets, experience and expertise, and collaborating on finding new solutions to
disaster response, the positive impact will be even greater when the next disaster occurs.
The Web site includes corporate best practices in responding to disasters, a directory of relief agencies, tools on how
companies and employees can contribute most effectively to relief efforts and guidance on volunteer opportunities for
employees.
The Partnership for Disaster Response says it works to enhance the efficiency of the private sector’s response to
communities’ most critical needs following a disaster by mobilising valuable resources – beyond financial contributions –
that Roundtable member companies are equipped to provide.
The Partnership for Disaster Response was activated for the first time immediately following Hurricane Katrina.
Business Roundtable member companies contributed $362 million in funding, services, supplies and equipment to
support Hurricane Katrina immediate relief efforts. The Partnership urged member companies to contribute to the relief
effort and facilitated communications about critical, on-the-ground needs.
The Partnership also maintained daily contact with the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Department of
Homeland Security, Department of Commerce and others, and helped match these organisations’ needs with member
companies’ resources.
