CPM

Homeland Security and FEMA Administrators Headline Agility Recovery's National Preparedness Month Educational Initiative

• Aug 28, 2009

Agility Recovery Solutions, a business continuity and disaster recovery company, will participate in National Preparedness Month for a fifth consecutive year, providing a curriculum designed to educate business owners about the virtues of preparing for business interruption. NPM is held each September and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities.

September 2009 marks the sixth annual NPM, an initiative sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps. This year will focus on changing the perceptions about emergency preparedness. Coalition members, such as Agility Recovery Solutions, share preparedness information with their members, customers, employees, and communities.

"Small and mid-size businesses are the backbone of the country's economy. Local communities rely upon these businesses to provide goods, services, and income to their residents," said Bob Boyd, president and CEO of Agility Recovery Solutions. "However, without access to the proper planning tools, these businesses are helpless against unforeseen events and circumstances. Agility provides these business owners with the tools necessary to develop effective business continuity plans - not just during the month of September, but throughout the year."

During the month, Agility Recovery is hosting free Webinars on Wednesdays at 2 pm EDT to educate businesses about the importance of business continuity planning. These online, interactive courses include:

• September 2, 2009 - "Business Preparedness - Simple Steps To Ensure Continuity": Guest Speaker: Ms. Rebecca Marquis, Acting Director of Ready Campaign, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  

• September 16, 2009 - "Pandemic Planning - How to Prepare Your Business for the Upcoming Flu Season": Guest Speaker: Colonel William Lang (Ret.), M.D. Former Associate Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  

• September 23, 2009 - "Social Media - What Role Does It Play in Business Preparedness?": Guest Speaker: Mr. John P. Shea, Public Information Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  

• September 30, 2009 - Creating a "Culture of Preparedness": Guest Speaker: Mr. R. David Paulison, Former Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
  

According to a recent study commissioned by Agility Recovery Solutions, an overwhelming 90 percent of small to mid-size businesses are woefully unprepared for a business interruption or disaster. More often than not these 'disasters' are everyday events that can have crippling effects on a business: a broken water pipe, a building fire, a power surge, or power outage - not necessarily the natural disasters and regional events dominating the headlines.

For more information on National Preparedness Month and Agility-sponsored events, please visit www.agilityrecovery.com.