Preparing for the Worst
July 16th, 2010
As our friends and neighbors in Nashville have unfortunately experienced, the worst can happen, and it can happen out of the blue, with little warning.
As we all know, many nonprofits play a critical role during emergency response and recovery; however, emergency preparedness is an issue that affects everyone in our community.
Preparing your organization to guarantee its ability to carry out its mission during an emergency- from natural disaster to an office fire – should be a priority, even for those organizations who will not be part of the immediate emergency response.
This quarter, the CNP will feature several opportunities for nonprofits to learn more about preparing for the worst.
On August 12th we will feature as our TVI luncheon speaker Lewis Lavine, speaking on the topic of “Lessons Learned from Disaster”. Lewis is the CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Management in Nashville, and personally experienced the issues of trying to operate a business in less than optimal conditions following the massive flooding in Nashville. He also worked extensively with the nonprofit community and federal and state authorities in the aftermath of the flooding, coordinating the immediate response as well as the continued clean up efforts.
We are also offering a workshop on July 15, presented by Greg Smith, Hamilton County Emergency Management Planner, on creating a Continuity of Operations Plan, known as a COOP. Greg hails from Florida, and has worked with a number of entities, including nonprofits, on creating plans to prevent organizations from becoming a victim of a disaster due to a lack of preparation.
COOP planning is meant to ensure your organizations ability to operate and recover from a wide range of emergencies and disasters, including:
1) Ensure effective and continuous performance of essential functions during and after emergency.
2) Protect facilities, equipment, records, and other assets that support essential functions.
3) Reduce disruptions to operations.
4) Minimize loss of life and injury to employees.
5) Prepare for resumption of normal operation and the continuation of as many essential functions as possible until normal operations can resume.
Emergency preparedness requires strong partnerships, and the CNP is pleased to be able to provide resources and foster the conversation around developing the ability of the nonprofit community to respond and survive in the event of a disaster.
Posted by CNP Staff
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