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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle Launches Emergency Network for Businesses
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/1/2003 10:39:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Seattle Initiates Business Emergency Network
System designed to assist with response and economic recovery
SEATTLE - The City of Seattle today unveiled a communication system that will assist businesses in their response to and recovery from an emergency. Known as the Business Emergency Network (BEN), it enables businesses to receive information directly from the City's Emergency Operations Center and provide feedback about what they need.
BEN is designed to reach businesses throughout the Central Puget Sound and become a regional network for sharing information and resources among public and private sector organizations.
"We are committed to making Seattle the most prepared city in the nation," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "BEN will help us prepare businesses to address the safety and economic recovery issues that they face in the wake of a natural disaster or other emergency."
For the last year, the city has worked with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Seattle and King County (BOMA), and other business organizations to create a meaningful partnership between government and the corporate community. BEN is designed to create a one-stop shop for businesses to share information and resources during an emergency, as well as a way to create partnerships among businesses that would assist economic recovery.
"An effective communication channel from the City to the business community will ensure that businesses, both small and large, receive timely information and have the ability to report about necessary resources after a disaster," said Steve Leahy, President & CEO of the Greater Seattle Chamber. "Involving the business community in disaster preparedness is a critical component. Enabling businesses to recover quickly post-disaster helps ensure that our economy will avoid a major disruption."
BOMA, whose members own or manage 35 million square feet of office and commercial real estate in Seattle and King County, is participating in BEN to assist in the emergency preparedness of the organizations located in their buildings, representing more than 175,000 employees.
"BOMA looks forward to this important partnership with the City of Seattle, local governments and other business groups. Working together, we can be a powerful force to minimize the impact of an emergency situation and more effectively return the region's economy back to normal." said BOMA President, Don Wise, a real estate executive with Unico Properties.
The system will be initiated in early May to inform the business community about TOPOFF2, the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise ever undertaken in the United States. TOPOFF2 will take place the week of May 12 and include 36 hours of continuous, live, full-scale exercise play, in the field and at the City's emergency operations centers. Hundreds of police, fire, health, and other emergency responders are expected to participate.
Not only is this a great opportunity to test BEN, the test will help to let businesses know what to expect during the exercise.
"This is just the beginning of our partnership," said Nickels. "BEN will go far beyond the scope of this exercise, and it will continue to grow to benefit the whole region."
For more information about BEN, contact Ines Pearce, Seattle Emergency Management, (206) 615-0288 or via e-mail at ines.pearce@seattle.gov
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Office of the Mayor
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