Agencies to help businesses with disaster preparedness
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the American Red
Cross joined forces in an effort to intensify outreach to educate
the public about the importance of having a disaster recovery
plan.
Agencies to help businesses with disaster preparedness
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the American Red Cross joined forces in an effort to intensify outreach to educate the public about the importance of having a disaster recovery plan.
“Given the recent devastation caused by tornadoes and flooding in communities from New England and the Midwest to the Southern state, and the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, we recognize the importance of helping people learn how to protect themselves, said Karen Mills, the SBA administrator. “This collaboration with the Red Cross will allow us to draw on each other’s resources to make emergency preparedness a way of life for individuals and businesses.”
The core of the agreement is a plan to work with SBA district offices and its resource partners, along with Red Cross chapters to offer preparedness training workshops. They will also provide the Red Cross Ready Rating program, in which businesses or individuals can join an online program that helps them prepare for emergencies.
“Studies show that between 15 percent to 40 percent of businesses fail following a natural or man-made disaster,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “By partnering with the SBA to get more families and businesses prepared for emergencies, we hope to save both lives and livelihoods.”
For more information, visit www.sba.gov or www.readyrating.org.
