MEADOWLANDS REGIONAL CHAMBER PARTNERS WITH BERGEN COUNTY TO PRESENT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS CONFERENCE

The Meadowlands Regional Chamber is presenting a Disaster Preparedness Conference in partnership with the Bergen County Executive’s Office and the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management to assist local businesses in developing a business continuity plan in the case of an emergency. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 10 at Bergen Community College Technology Education Center at the Paramus Campus from 8:00am to 2:00pm. 

As part of the conference, Bergen County and municipal officials will highlight the resources that are available to businesses and provide valuable information on how to best develop a business continuity plan in case operations are impacted or interrupted due to a disaster. Bergen County OEM will be showcasing emergency vehicles in the parking lot in front of the Technology Education Center.

County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan will be offering opening remarks, while Executives from PSE&G and United Water will inform attendees on how best to receive communication regarding outages and service disruptions. They will also clarify the processes and protocols in effect during a natural disaster or state of emergency.

Risk managers and insurance executives will review step by step the procedures and programs designed to protect business assets in case disaster strikes. Triada Networks will reveal enterprise level systems that are available to small and midsized companies looking to protect their data and information.

“Recent severe weather incidents along with a minor earthquake that rumbled our region show just how vulnerable and unprepared we are. This conference is a call to action for all small and medium sized businesses who have not thought about how to protect and sustain their companies” states Jim Kirkos, CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber.

 “Too many of our members suffered personal and business losses so we feel it is our obligation as a business service organization to help provide our members and the broader business community with good information that could help prevent financial disaster after the storm.”   

This program is being presented just before hurricane season is upon us and nearly one year after New Jersey was struck by Hurricane Irene and thousands of businesses across the state were forced to close, including MRC Member Action Graphics. 

“I had moved my business to Lincoln Park, home of more excessive flooding, business closings and near several area towns where police departments essentially shut down towns. Couldn't go in or move freely from within. Any idea what that means when you are running a business?” said Rick Dabagian, Vice President of Sales at Action Graphics. “The managing partner [of Action Graphics] and myself will be attending this important disaster seminar and we encourage others to consider the 'what if?' It's a matter ofwhen and not if.”