The first "comprehensive" strategic plan for emergency preparedness regional implementation, was release recently by Deloitte LLP and the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte LLP and the Nonprofit
Roundtable of Greater Washington today released the "The Roadmap to
Preparedness: A Strategic Plan to Address Unmet Needs in Nonprofit
Emergency Preparedness for the National Capital Region." The Roadmap is one
of the nation's first completed comprehensive plans to implement a regional
metropolitan strategy for emergency preparedness in the nonprofit
community.Representatives from Greater Washington nonprofit organizations, joined
by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) officials, as well as disaster preparedness specialists from
Deloitte, unveiled the plan, which is a two-year initiative led by the
Nonprofit Roundtable and Deloitte, in collaboration with the National
Capital Region nonprofit community.Utilizing a "regional gap assessment" process that included surveys,
stakeholder interviews, focus groups and a series of emergency preparedness
training events, the plan addresses shortfalls in preparation efforts
between area nonprofits, which serve a vital role as the proverbial "third
leg of the disaster preparedness stool," working alongside government and
the business community during a disaster.The Roadmap will help the nonprofit community build plans to operate
more effectively and efficiently during a time of regional crisis. It
addresses such areas as: integrated planning and training; strengthened
partnerships between nonprofits, government and the private sector;
improved coordination and communication networks; and sustained capacity to
respond to all-hazard events, emphasizing long-term recovery capabilities."Today's event is the culmination of nearly two years of intense
activity," said Chuck Bean, executive director of the Nonprofit Roundtable
of Greater Washington. "To get us here, we've met numerous times with the
scores of nonprofit leaders represented here, along with Deloitte
executives and public sector leaders, to listen, share experiences,
educate, and drill. But this is just the beginning. We will now begin to
implement this plan collectively as a nonprofit community."The plan includes endorsements from government leaders, national
nonprofit organizations and members of the business community. "'The
Roadmap to Preparedness' plan goes a long way to ensuring our Greater
Washington region is going to be better prepared for emergency situations.
The Greater Washington Board of Trade applauds the leadership of the
Nonprofit Roundtable and Deloitte LLP to better integrate the nonprofit
community into the region's overall preparedness plans. We can take a page
from their collaborative effort, in ensuring that the business community
meets its obligations in ensuring the National Capital Region is a best
practice in emergency response and preparedness planning and execution,"
said Jim Dinegar, President and CEO of The Greater Washington Board of
Trade.Keynote speaker Dennis Schrader, deputy administrator, National
Preparedness Directorate, FEMA/DHS, noted in his remarks that, "As we've
seen time and time again, this vital and diverse network of organizations
often acts as the backbone of local response, providing services ranging
from emergency shelter, to meals, to transportation and much more."Schrader continued, "The nonprofit sector's unique resources and
capabilities both complement and enhance public and private sector
preparedness efforts and initiatives. Indeed, the 'Roadmap to Preparedness'
exemplifies FEMA's commitment to work hand-in-hand with our partners. I
applaud this important step forward in strengthening our nation's ability
to prepare for and respond to disasters."Some of the preparedness shortfalls highlighted during training
exercises over the last two years were identified and addressed with the
help of FEMA and DHS officials, who gave generously of their time to engage
with their nonprofit constituencies.For instance, Christopher T. Geldart, the director, Office of National
Capital Region Coordination, FEMA/DHS, has provided guidance around key
government planning details during several events, including an October
2007 discussion-focused exercise that tracked a mock pandemic flu outbreak
in the Greater Washington area."Participating in these exercises has been extremely educational and
rewarding," said Geldart. "The feedback we've received, and the open
communication it has fostered, speaks directly to FEMA's mission to engage
local communities. We applaud the leadership this group has shown in
proactively preparing for the future."The Nonprofit Roundtable received a $250,000 grant from Deloitte's
Problem Solvers Fund to undertake this project, as well as more than 1000
hours of professional time donated by the firm. The Problem Solvers Fund
invests financial support, skills-based volunteerism and leadership in
nonprofits nationwide to build their capacity to address significant social
issues in their communities."By joining with the Nonprofit Roundtable, Deloitte can donate not only
our funding, but also our unique talents to strengthen our community's
nonprofits," said Gary H. Tabach, Deloitte LLP's managing partner for
Greater Washington. "In fact, this type of skills-based giving has become
the hallmark of Deloitte's community involvement efforts nationwide."This Roadmap is one of the first emergency preparedness strategic
frameworks for a large metropolitan region that has a focus on the
nonprofit community. The plan may serve as a best practices model or
template for other cities across the country. In fact, nonprofit leaders
and emergency managers from other large metropolitan areas who have
reviewed the plan have commented that they look forward to incorporating
elements into their own plans.Deloitte and the Roundtable have received kudos from emergency
management experts in other parts of the country as well. "While most
everyone appreciates and understands the role of government in providing
disaster assistance, the importance of community-based organizations in
administering to the needs of underserved populations after disasters is
often overlooked," said Paul Jacks, Program Director, Bay Area Preparedness
Initiative at the Fritz Institute, a nonprofit disaster response leader in
the San Francisco Bay area. "Deloitte and the Nonprofit Roundtable of
Greater Washington should be commended for developing the Roadmap to
Preparedness Strategic Plan which provides a clear path for non-profits to
effectively and efficiently provide critical front line safety-net social
services when disaster strikes. This work will benefit other communities as
well, such as the San Francisco Bay Area."As the implementation of the Roadmap begins, there will be
opportunities to host regional and national events to engage other
metropolitan areas interested in a blueprint for strengthening nonprofit
emergency preparedness. These forums will be announced in the future.About Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington
The Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington is a nonprofit,
501(c)(3) organization launched in 2002 by nonprofit leaders from across
the metropolitan area. The mission of The Nonprofit Roundtable is to build
the strength, influence and visibility of the nonprofit sector in Greater
Washington. With nearly 200 members representing the broad diversity of the
Greater Washington area's nonprofit community, the Nonprofit Roundtable
strives to strengthen our collective voice on areas of vital importance to
our region. Members are service providers, advocacy organizations, and
grantmakers--from small community-based organizations to the region's
largest foundation--there is a seat at the Roundtable and a role in shaping
and advancing the nonprofit sector's common agenda.About Deloitte
As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and Deloitte
Services LP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see
http://www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure
of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.Source: Deloitte LLP
download the Plan here
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