Emergency Preparedness - Business

Sponsor Organization: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Campaign Website: www.ready.gov
Volunteer Agency: The Neiman Group, Slack Barshinger

Every day communities nationwide are faced with extreme weather or other emergency situations. Ready Business, an extension of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s successful Ready Campaign, is designed to educate owners and managers of small to medium-sized businesses about preparing their employees, operations, and assets in the event of an emergency. To spread this critical message, Homeland Security has sponsored new public service advertisements (PSAs) specifically targeted to America’s small businesses.

Small- to medium-sized businesses are the cornerstone of the American economy.  Small businesses make up 99 percent of employee firms in this nation and are most vulnerable following an emergency.  The ability of U.S. businesses to survive and recover quickly from both natural and man-made disasters directly benefits employees, customers, the community, and the local and even national economy.

The newest installment to the Ready Business Campaign’s PSAs, entitled “Procrastination,” encourages small business owners to define the day after. With an emergency plan in place, small businesses can better adapt, recover and stay in control. The PSAs encourage small business owners to make a plan so that they can get their business up and running the day after – and many days after that. The advertisements also serve as a reminder of the information readily available to help prepare businesses for an emergency at www.ready.gov.