Top Ten Ways to Engage Local Businesses in Disaster Preparedness Activities
Scott CaveAtlantic Business Continuity Services
March 5, 2014
Partner with Chambers of Commerce and/or Economic Development Organizations
#1
• Benefits Chamber
• Benefits Community
• Provides administrative support
• Portal to business community
Chamber of Commerce Examples
• Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce• Formed a BCP Council• Chamber Members volunteered to join• Organized 14 workshops 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)
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)
Develop Professional Network#2
• Identify business continuity professionals
• Identify related professional associations
• Engage these individuals and groups
• Use their knowledge and experience
Find Storytellers#3
• Personal accounts or experiences
• Lessons learned
• Will inspire and motivate others to act
• More than just nameless statistics
Create Speaker’s Bureau#4
• Deliver the preparedness message
• Professional associations and groups
• Give them the reasons
• Lead into workshops and other resources
Hold Workshops#5
• Tell them how to prepare
• Use personal stories
• Advertise through professional groups
• Free resources available
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
Integrate with Emergency Mgmt.#6
• Connect Business Continuity with EOC
• Private-Public Partnership
• Businesses need to know local gov’t response
• Builds community-wide resiliency
Publicize through Media#7
• Traditional newspapers, radio, TV
• Social media
• Utility bill inserts
• Become the source for business preparedness
Promote through Business Licenses
#8
• Inserts in license renewals
• Information in new license applications
• Discounts for Business Continuity Plan???
Promote through Fire Inspections#9
• Item on Fire Chief’s checklist
• Hand out brochures, flyers, etc.
• Provide information on events
Track Your Progress#10
• Survey the business community
• Measure % of businesses with a plan
• Track over time for improvements
Questions?
Scott Cave, CBCP
Principal
Atlantic Business Continuity Services
(843) 879-5025
www.atlanticprep.com
