By: Tim Bonno, CBCP

Okay, so everybody’s talking about It. You can’t pick up a trade publication without reading about It. It’s discussed at many conferences. It’s not Information Technology but rather “partnerships”. My intent was not to write another article about It. However, as I began to investigate and ponder all the other possibilities that are out there to be included in an article, I realized the concept remains foreign to many, is very much needed, and with a little time and money, can greatly enhance a current plan or program. So here’s my two cents worth of ... It.

Over many years, many disasters, and the end of the Cold War we have witnessed a migration from the age of Civil Defense to that of Emergency Management (both relating to the Public sector). As technology grew, as well as our reliance on that technology, the Private sector entered the age of Disaster Recovery (mainly within Information Services) and then moved into Business Continuity focusing on the company’s business units. Although each phase served its intended purpose very well, a shortfall of each was that they were myopic in their viewpoint. The Public sector, typically addressed response and recovery from a community standpoint without addressing the response of business and industry, nor what the needs of these entities might be. Mitigation addressed issues after the event. Similarly, as the Private sector moved into Disaster Recovery, the plans that were written did not account for the effects outages in the community, or the business units, would have on Information Services, or vice versa. Preparedness (mitigation) was addressed upfront. With Business Continuity Planning, we became more interested in the resumption of business activities enterprise-wide, not just in IS. However, as in Disaster Recovery, we generally were addressing issues from within and didn’t consider the impact the Public sector response would have on our own recovery. As business continuity planners we have been trained to look at dependencies (both ours and theirs). Today, we are being encouraged to look toward an age of “Partnerships”. A novel idea; both sectors working together and addressing key issues in advance!

In the January, 1997 issue of “Natural Hazards Observer” FEMA Director James Lee Witt stated “The time has come for the business community to become a full partner in our nation’s emergency management system. The health and safety of our citizens and the vitality and future of our communities depend on it.”

Today we are seeing more of this taking place throughout the country. Examples include Public sector representation within state and local Emergency Operations Centers, increasing Public sector participation on local professional planning organizations (i.e. MidAmerica Contingency Planning Forum in St. Louis), cross sector training, and the FEMA initiative of “Disaster Resistant Communities”. Additionally, FEMA has sponsored several focus group meetings to brainstorm issues in which both the Public and Private sectors can work together to better mitigate, respond and recover from the effects of a disaster (see “Contingency Planning Group Contacts”, DRJ, Summer 1997). One of the most recent focus group meetings held at FEMA headquarters addressed the development of an access credentialing process. Many times, re-entry into our facilities following a disaster has been difficult. A credentialing process made available to business and industry and recognized by the Public sector at the state and local level could help mitigate some of this delay.

In an effort to promote more of these opportunities, a new not-for-profit corporation was recently formed. PPBI (Private and Public Business, Inc.) was started to act as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information between emergency management, public agencies, and private business through communication, training, and standards setting. A goal of PPBI is to increase awareness of the economic viability of a community as an issue during recovery from disasters. On the internet, PPBI’s web site address is www.PPBI.org. At the recent fall DRJ conference in Atlanta, GA, PPBI offered its first training class titled “Fundamentals of Disaster Recovery Planning and Emergency Management Practices”.

So where does all this lead to? First, we should assume we will be hearing more about “partnerships” in the future. It’s a popular theory that on paper, and more importantly in practice, makes sense. It should not become an issue of one side dominating the other, but more of one where we ask each other “What can you teach me?” and “How can we compliment each others response and recovery capabilities?”

Second, in many incidents, the Private sector depends on the Public sector (i.e. police, fire, medical, public works) for some type of response activity. In a recent survey conducted by PPBI at the DRJ Spring Conference in San Diego, CA, 45% of respondents indicated that they had had specific incidents requiring a response from the public sector. Conversely, our communities have an economic dependence on the Private sector’s business continuity. When we look at the big picture, it becomes evident both are dependent on each other.

Third, it doesn’t take much to build a “partnership”. If you are in business or industry seek out your state and local emergency management agencies. Talk about your plans with your emergency management counterparts. Consider involving members of the Public sector in your exercises. Attend your states annual emergency management conference. Look for cross-sector training opportunities. Through FEMA, states can provide excellent training that is at no cost to attendees. If you are in the Public sector, invite business and industry to a training class. See if your community has a professional planning group and attend meetings. Involve business and industry in your next exercise. You might be surprised at what you will learn. If your state, county or city hasn’t included the Private sector in the EOC, look into this. It can be a win-win situation for both.

James Lee Witt, Director of FEMA,
swears in John Copenhaver to FEMA.
Mrs. Copenhaver observes the ceremony.