City Emergency Preparedness Manager Honored for Volunteerism

City of Carlsbad Emergency Preparedness Manager David Harrison was honored by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as one of its volunteers of the year for his efforts to prepare the community for disaster through the Ready Carlsbad Business Alliance. 

Toni Padron, the chamber’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, praised Harrison during the awards ceremony on Dec. 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn for “creating a link between business and community that will enable us to weather any disaster that comes along.” 

The Ready Carlsbad Business Alliance helps businesses and their employees prepare for an emergency and aids in community recovery after a disaster. Ready Carlsbad is a relationship between the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, the City of Carlsbad and local businesses, and is seeking new members. 

“The mission of Ready Carlsbad Business Alliance is to promote business emergency preparedness,” Harrison said. “We can help train employees in family and business preparedness, assist businesses with continuity of operations planning and encourage businesses to help in community recovery.” 

In the coming year the alliance will conduct educational symposiums, practical workshops and exercises to educate and prepare businesses for a potential emergency. Ready Carlsbad is looking for interested business participants, potential supplies and a general framework that will match resources with those in need before a disaster strikes.

Waiting until a disaster has hit to accomplish this task is too late, says Harrison. Ready Carlsbad recently achieved 501 (c) 3 status, which makes donations tax deductible, and is investigating other incentives to promote participation and contributions. Last month the alliance submitted a grant application for the Federal Emergency Management Agency 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge Program, which fosters community resilience by identifying needs, mobilizing partners and supporting community groups like Ready Carlsbad. 

Obtaining accurate, up-to-date and specific emergency information has traditionally been a challenge during emergencies. The Ready Carlsbad Business Alliance is a member of the San Diego County Ready San Diego Partner Connection, which provides information to registered businesses and other agencies during emergencies. 

Ready Carlsbad is organized through the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and the City of Carlsbad and supports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security goal of private sector preparedness collaboration. “The Ready Carlsbad Business Alliance is consistent with the President’s National Preparedness Goal and FEMA’s Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management, both launched in 2011,” Harrison said, noting that businesses and chambers of commerce are helping communities in New Jersey and New York recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. 

According to the Small Business Association, more than one in four businesses will experience a significant crisis in a given year, and of those that experience a disaster and have no emergency plan, 43 percent never reopen. “Whereas emergency response is best left to fire and law enforcement professionals, the alliance is about business preparedness and community recovery. Participation in these two areas is in everyone’s self-interest,” said Harrison. The Ready Carlsbad Business Alliance is seeking dedicated, community-minded businesses to help prepare the community.

–City of Carlsbad