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Source: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/bus...safe_0508.html
Foundation to train corporate leaders on handling natural disasters
By BILL HENDRICK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/07/08
The Marietta-based Safe America Foundation said Wednesday it has launched a national "emergency preparedness" campaign for businesses to help corporate leaders prepare to handle natural disasters, ranging from floods to a bird flu pandemic.
Safe America president Len Pagano told an Atlanta Medical Center audience that the Marietta nonprofit organization had received a grant of $360,000 for the campaign from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The project, he said, is aimed at helping "business leaders nationally mitigate the potential impact of a natural disaster ? earthquake, hurricane, tornado or flooding."
The foundation has been a leader over the past three years in helping corporations prepare for a bird flu pandemic.
"We used to have problems that were local disasters," Pagano said. "But today, even 'local problems' become global because of the interconnectedness we have with the global economy. Our goal is to build a consortium that will mobilize people across organizational lines so that all of the collective skills needed to help communities recover is put into use."
Pagano noted that the new campaign, called "WorldSafe," will work with the United Nations to "continue keeping 'pandemic flu readiness' on the front burner."
He noted that more than 200 business leaders have signed up to become part of the program.
"We're proud that this movement has begun in Georgia and look forward to protecting Georgians from future challenges," Pagano said. "We're seeing that health issues like pandemic flu are just the beginning of global concerns that will reach us. With shortages of petroleum and food, we will have to be prepared to deal with shortages of critical supplies and the time to act is now."
He added: "We need everyone ? youth, seniors and average Americans ? to be prepared, not scared, in handling emergencies."
Foundation to train corporate leaders on handling natural disasters
By BILL HENDRICK
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/07/08
The Marietta-based Safe America Foundation said Wednesday it has launched a national "emergency preparedness" campaign for businesses to help corporate leaders prepare to handle natural disasters, ranging from floods to a bird flu pandemic.
Safe America president Len Pagano told an Atlanta Medical Center audience that the Marietta nonprofit organization had received a grant of $360,000 for the campaign from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The project, he said, is aimed at helping "business leaders nationally mitigate the potential impact of a natural disaster ? earthquake, hurricane, tornado or flooding."
The foundation has been a leader over the past three years in helping corporations prepare for a bird flu pandemic.
"We used to have problems that were local disasters," Pagano said. "But today, even 'local problems' become global because of the interconnectedness we have with the global economy. Our goal is to build a consortium that will mobilize people across organizational lines so that all of the collective skills needed to help communities recover is put into use."
Pagano noted that the new campaign, called "WorldSafe," will work with the United Nations to "continue keeping 'pandemic flu readiness' on the front burner."
He noted that more than 200 business leaders have signed up to become part of the program.
"We're proud that this movement has begun in Georgia and look forward to protecting Georgians from future challenges," Pagano said. "We're seeing that health issues like pandemic flu are just the beginning of global concerns that will reach us. With shortages of petroleum and food, we will have to be prepared to deal with shortages of critical supplies and the time to act is now."
He added: "We need everyone ? youth, seniors and average Americans ? to be prepared, not scared, in handling emergencies."