Thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise, insight and inspiration on creating and enhancing disaster response plans. Speakers:
- Tony Mendes, Senior Emergency Management Specialist, FEMA Region VIII
- Troy Staples, Director of Preparedness, The American Red Cross
- Jeremy Story, Vice President, GroundFloor Media
More about the event: This event builds off of B:CIVIC’s 2021 toolkit, Planning for Resilience: Disaster Response Toolkit.
2020 was a record year for natural disasters. Colorado faced its worst wildfire season to date. And we know natural disasters are increasing at an alarming rate. It is critical to develop a holistic, strategic response plan before the next disaster strikes. From distributing communications to understanding community impact and most importantly, supporting your employees, organization's have many responsibilities during times of crisis. How do you prepare to respond? What do you need to have in place to be successful? What does that look like here in Colorado?
Representatives from FEMA, GroundFloor Media | CenterTable and the American Red Cross shared how your organization can build strategies and resilience for a time of crisis. These leading experts provided best in class examples of how an organization can support disaster response and employee safety, partner with organizations on the ground and communicate effectively.
A recording of the event and resources can be accessed below. The slides can be accessed here. Access our disaster response resource sheet here.
Learn more about the partners who spoke and their services:
- Learn about the American Red Cross
- Download Emergency Contact Cards to share with your employees.
- Download Ready Rating Information: Our free membership program is designed to help your business, school or organization become better prepared for disasters and other emergencies.
- Download the Be Ready Cross Ready Sheet: To learn how to make a kit, safety plan and be ready for any situation.
- Learn about FEMA
- FEMA’s virtual exhibit booth room, FEMA TEDxMH Uncharted (aecomviz.com): Move around the room and find various informational handouts and preparedness information on the different tables, as well as watch videos, all in an effort to learn more about FEMA’s mission and its programs
- Learn more about GroundFloor Media | CenterTable
- Crisis Roadmap & Resources: GroundFloor Media | CenterTable share seven steps to take in a crisis roadmap and other best practices.
Planning Resources:
- B:CIVIC’s Planning for Resilience: Disaster Response Toolkit: Released in early 2021 featuring a checklist, company best practices and more.
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy Disaster Philanthropy Playbook: Comprehensive resource of promising practices and innovative approaches to guide the philanthropic community in responding to future disasters.
- Crisis Roadmap & Resources: GroundFloor Media | CenterTable share seven steps to take in a crisis roadmap and other best practices.
- Disaster Grantmaking: A practical guide for foundations and corporations.
- Measuring the State of Disaster Philanthropy: The data presented illuminates funding trends, expose imbalances in where and when contributions are made, and can help donors make more strategic decisions about their investments in the full life cycle of disasters.
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation Corporate Guide to Disaster Response and Preparedness: Created this guide to help prepare and support corporate social responsibility practitioners in their efforts to contribute to disaster relief preparedness and response.
Organizations Supporting Colorado:
- American Red Cross of Colorado: The Colorado specific site for American Red Cross.
- CEPP: Promotes joint emergency planning between the public, private and philanthropic sectors in Colorado.
- COVOAD: Colorado National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters
- FEMA Colorado: The Colorado specific page for FEMA.
- Good360: Good360 delivers the right goods to the right people at the right time throughout all stages of a disaster, providing hope and dignity to those adversely impacted.
- Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is ready with immediate response and recovery plans unique to the community affected.
- Spark the Change Colorado: At Spark the Change Colorado, formerly Metro Volunteers, we are the community's experts in disaster preparedness and effective volunteerism during and after disaster.
- Team Rubicon: Team Rubicon is an international disaster response nonprofit that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly provide relief to communities in need.
- United Ways in Colorado: United Ways help mobilize and support disasters through funding opportunities.
- You Give Goods: Support any charity with an online drive for brand-new items they need
Employee Assistance and Safety Resources:
- Creating & Managing an Employee Assistance Fund
- Drought Resources: Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management shares details on drought planning, information and history.
- Emergency Assistance Foundation and Resources
- OSHA’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources
- Gov: Provides a variety of safety resources, from planning ahead to building a kid, emergency alerts and financial preparedness.
- Salvation Army’s Disaster Preparedness Handbook: How to prepare, stay aware and take action to keep yourself and your family safe.
- S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance: The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
- Wildfire Resources: Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management shares details on wildfire planning, resources and a risk assessment. Additionally access the US Drought Monitor for more.
