NU Online News Service, Oct. 16, 1:50 p.m. EDT
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday published proposed regulations designed to standardize preparedness programs for disasters and emergencies.
The proposals won strong support from the Institute for Business & Home Safety in Tampa, Fla., a group funded by insurance companies and agents, among others, whose purpose is to coordinate private sector efforts to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters.
Specifically, DHS published a notice seeking public comment on new standards the private sector can create under the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program, or PS-Prep.
According to the DHS, PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector enabling private entities–including businesses, nonprofit organizations and universities–to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector.
The three areas covered under the proposal are designed to enhance operational resilience, business continuity management, and disaster and emergency management among participating private sector partners.
"Preparedness is a shared responsibility and everyone–including businesses, universities and nonprofit organizations–has a role to play," Janet Napolitano, DHS secretary, said in announcing the agency has proposed the new standards for comment.
"Ensuring our private sector partners have the information and training they need to respond to disasters will strengthen our efforts to build a culture of preparedness nationwide," she said.
The proposed standards were developed by the National Fire Protection Association, the British Standards Institution and the ASIS International. They were selected based on their scalability, balance of interest and relevance to PS-Prep from a group of 25 standards proposed for consideration following the publication of a Federal Register notice in December 2008 announcing the program.
In addition to the proposed standards published for comment, DHS officials said they were establishing classifications and methods of certifications that "recognize the unique needs and characteristics of small businesses."
Specifically, because the certification process may involve expense which could cause small businesses to avoid seeking certification, DHS is working to address the concerns of small business and establish separate classifications and methods of certification for small business interests, the proposal says.
The agency noted that participation in the PS-Prep program is completely voluntary. "No private sector entity will be required by DHS to comply with any standard adopted under the program," the agency said. However, "DHS encourages all private sector entities to seriously consider seeking certification on one or more standards that will be adopted by DHS," agency officials said.
Reacting to the proposal, Julie Rochman, president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), said the proposal "is great news for American citizens."
She added, "IBHS fully supports the proposed goal of providing the business community with tools that will allow for voluntary implementation of preparedness programs to make individual businesses, local communities and our nation more resilient in the face of natural and man-made disasters."
She said IBHS member insurance companies, brokers and agents, as well as commercial policyholders who use IBHS programs to prepare for natural disasters "already appreciate just how critical proper preparation can be to survival after a disaster."
She added that the IBHS program, called "Open for Business," is available to the public at no cost.
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