(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 16, 2009 ) OAKLAND, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), today hosted a forum titled, “Will Your Business Survive an Earthquake,” for the Encino Chamber of Commerce in California.

QuakeSmart was developed by FEMA around the premise that no community can fully recover from a damaging earthquake until its businesses are back and running. Because local businesses may not be as prepared to resume commercial activity, getting them to mitigate for earthquake loss has become an economic priority. “We want at-risk businesses to become ‘QuakeSmart,’” said Nancy Ward, regional administrator of FEMA Region IX. “Being a QuakeSmart business means knowing your risk, making a plan, and taking action.”

QuakeSmart forums feature leading national experts who address topics such as Earthquake Vulnerability-Protecting Your Investment, What a Small Business Can Do NOW, Mitigation Resources for Business and Business Interruption Planning. Participants at the Encino, CA forum heard from a local business that provided a first-hand account of how mitigation helped them recovery more quickly following the Northridge earthquake.

The benefits to businesses that participate in the program and actively work to mitigate are substantial. Not only can business owners protect their and others’ investments and recover more quickly from a disaster, they could also save on insurance premiums, substantially reduce the risk of injury or death for themselves, their employees and customers, and help create a more resilient community in which future investment is more attractive.

The QuakeSmart forum is one of many activities occurring during National Preparedness Month to promote public and government awareness of the critical importance of preparedness at every level.

For further information about the program or on how to register for a forum in your community, contact QuakeSmart at info@quakesmart.org or visit www.quakesmart.org.

For information on National Preparedness Month, visit www.ready.gov.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Contact Information:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
Kelly Hudso
Tel: 510-627-7006
Email us


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