Small or large, every business has an obligation to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Why? Consider the following: According to the Insurance Information Institute and the American Red Cross and FedEx Small Business Survey, 15-40 percent of businesses fail following a natural or manmade disaster and 94 percent of small business owners believe a disaster could seriously disrupt their business with the next two years.
These and other findings depict a large deficit between public perceptions of the importance of emergency preparation and those households, businesses, schools and organizations that have concrete, sustainable plans in place.
To close these gaps, the American Red Cross Ready Rating™ program is designed to help your business become better prepared for disasters and other emergencies. Ready Rating is a free membership program that provides an online assessment to measure current readiness levels. Based on the assessment scores, members receive immediate customized feedback from Red Cross emergency preparedness experts, including tools and resources needed to take the important preparedness steps. Those important steps will lead to the creation of your Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
The Ready Rating program:
- Is free, self-paced and web-based
- Provides the Ready Rating Assessment
- Makes readiness measurable
- Provides customized and confidential feedback from emergency preparation experts
- Leads to the development of an emergency action plan (EAP)
- Promotes continuous improvement
Organizations that join and make a commitment to preparedness have access to the Ready Rating Program Member Seal to display at your facility. The seal serves as a public recognition of your organization’s commitment to preparedness and safety.
Is your business prepared? Are your employees ready? Most are not, but all should be. The Red Cross is here to help.
For more information, visit the Ready Rating website at www.ReadyRating.org. To learn about future Ready Rating online presentations, contact Diane Orgill at diane.orgill@redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.