Proposed Standards for the Private Sector to Improve Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies

The Department is seeking public comment on three new standards identified for adoption under the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). PS-Prep is a partnership between the Department and the private sector that enables private entities—including businesses, non-profit organizations and universities—to receive emergency preparedness certification from a Department accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector.

The notice proposes new PS-Prep standards to enhance operational resilience, business continuity management, and disaster and emergency management among participating private sector partners.

Comment Period

Comments will be accepted and are due no later than November 15, 2009. Comments may be submitted via

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. (Note: This process applies to all government requests for comments--even though as in the case of PS-Prep, they may not be for regulatory purposes.)
• E-mail: FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include Docket ID FEMA-2008-0017 in the subject line of the message.
• Fax: 703-483-2999.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Room 840, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket ID FEMA-2008-0017.

Read the proposed standards from the Federal Register. 

For more information, see www.fema.gov/privatesectorpreparedness.