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Top Ten Ways to Engage Local Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Activities

Top Ten Ways to Engage Local Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Activities. Scott Cave Atlantic Business Continuity Services March 5, 2014. Partner with Chambers of Commerce and/or Economic Development Organizations. #1. Benefits Chamber Benefits Community

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Top Ten Ways to Engage Local Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Activities

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  1. Top Ten Ways to Engage Local Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Activities Scott Cave Atlantic Business Continuity Services March 5, 2014

  2. Partner with Chambers of Commerce and/or Economic Development Organizations #1 • Benefits Chamber • Benefits Community • Provides administrative support • Portal to business community

  3. Chamber of Commerce Examples • Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce • Formed a BCP Council • Chamber Members volunteered to join • Organized 14workshops and seminars from 2006 – 2012 • Partnered with local agencies (DHEC, County, State) • Developed Speaker’s Bureau to present at local events • Engaged larger community (CARRI, ESF-24, NetGuard)

  4. Chamber of Commerce Examples Continued • Greater Summerville Chamber of Commerce • Did not form a committee but focused on topic • Held annual workshops and seminars for past three years • Completed internal Business Continuity Plan • Partnered with local agencies (County)

  5. #2 Develop Professional Network • Identify business continuity professionals • Identify related professional associations • Engage these individuals and groups • Use their knowledge and experience

  6. #3 Find Storytellers • Personal accounts or experiences • Lessons learned • Will inspire and motivate others to act • More than just nameless statistics

  7. #4 Create Speaker’s Bureau • Deliver the preparedness message • Professional associations and groups • Give them the reasons • Lead into workshops and other resources

  8. #5 Hold Workshops • Tell them how to prepare • Use personal stories • Advertise through professional groups • Free resources available

  9. Workshop Lessons Learned • Both free and paid workshops have been well attended • Shorter events (morning or half-day) are better • Food = people in seats • Overlap with other events when there is a larger audience for a broader topic • Qualify all speakers in advance to ensure they can deliver a message with value that is interesting to audience • Time events to leverage media coverage (e.g., June 1) • Develop relationships to best advertise events • Deliver value to the attendees so they will promote

  10. #6 Integrate with Emergency Mgmt. • Connect Business Continuity with EOC • Private-Public Partnership • Businesses need to know local gov’t response • Builds community-wide resiliency

  11. #7 Publicize through Media • Traditional newspapers, radio, TV • Social media • Utility bill inserts • Become the source for business preparedness

  12. #8 Promote through Business Licenses • Inserts in license renewals • Information in new license applications • Discounts for Business Continuity Plan???

  13. #9 Promote through Fire Inspections • Item on Fire Chief’s checklist • Hand out brochures, flyers, etc. • Provide information on events

  14. #10 Track Your Progress • Survey the business community • Measure % of businesses with a plan • Track over time for improvements

  15. Questions? Scott Cave, CBCP Principal Atlantic Business Continuity Services (843) 879-5025 scave@atlanticprep.com www.atlanticprep.com

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