In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

The widely-praised multi-agency/group response to Hurricane Gustav reinforced the importance of community preparedness and the crucial role of teamwork between all levels of government and stakeholders in responding to disasters. Helping to replicate that kind of effort in areas throughout the U.S. is one the major goals of the upcoming third-annual “National Congress For Secure Communities” conference in Washington, D.C.

I attended last year’s event and found it quite interesting and helpful. That was in large part because it was the rare national gathering that focuses on community emergency preparedness and brings together participants from all sectors of society to work on a subject that does not always get the attention it deserves. At last year’s conference, I had the opportunity to meet leading preparedness officials and experts from communities around the U.S as well a number of national business executives whose firms have made a corporate commitment to preparedness. In all, more than 400 delegates attended

The National Congress is a part of the ReadyCommunities Partnership which was created by the Corporate Crisis Response Officers Association (CCROA) ”as a non-profit, non-partisan organization that promotes best practices of the private and community sectors to augment local response capabilities and reinforce local infrastructure in the first 72 hours of a large scale crisis.” The conference is an opportunity for local responders, business, political, and community leaders to come together to make contacts, exchange information and best practices as well hear from national officials. (DHS Secretary Chertoff gave last year’s keynote address.) 

Organizers are now assembling the sponsors for the upcoming Congress in December. Sponsorships range from $1000-$5000. They include tickets to the event as well as the chance to participate in the event’s program development. To learn more about the sponsorship opportunities, contact Rosalie Wyatt at 703-399-6929 or rosaliejwyatt@gmail.com. You can also find out more about the Congress and the ReadyCommunities Partnership at rosaliejwyatt@gmail.com. You can also find out more about the Congress and the ReadyCommunities Partnership at www.nationalcongress.org.