Remarks by Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge at the Ready Business Launch

Release Date: 09/23/04 00:00:00

Ready Business Launch
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Washington
September 23, 2004
(Remarks as Prepared)

Thank you, Suzanne, for that introduction. And thank you for hosting us here today at the Chamber. I am so pleased that you are helping us not only make an important announcement today, but take an important step to continue preparing businesses to deal with emergencies. It’s the kind of support for businesses – and business owners – that people have come to expect from the U.S. Chamber.

And it’s the kind of team approach that has come to define our preparedness efforts at the Department of Homeland Security. We have a group of partners that have helped to make this day possible – including the Ad Council and many of the country’s leading business organizations. They are all committed to helping businesses prepare; and they’re here because they understand that partnership is crucial to preparedness.

Much like homeland security in general, America’s preparedness requires everyone’s help. As I’ve said many times, we cannot secure America from inside the Beltway of D.C. Neither can we prepare businesses from an office or board room. Instead, homeland security and emergency preparedness must be a priority in every city, every community and every neighborhood across America.

And if you didn’t believe that before, talk to the people who have been in the path of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan.

The devastation and destruction left in their path is a grim reminder that disasters do happen. And I can assure you that those businesses that took the time to have an emergency plan – and were ready to continue operations under any circumstances – were in much better shape than others. They were prepared.  

I think it’s important at this point to thank all the men and women and organizations involved in the response and recovery effort across the southeast.  FEMA, state and local governments, public works officials, emergency management personnel, and power companies have been working around the clock in the affected areas.

And organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, church groups and literally thousands and thousands of people have come from around the country to help their fellow citizens, particularly in Florida and Alabama where these storms have hit the hardest.  Many have put their own lives on hold in order to help others in need – and they are to be commended.

The spirit of cooperation in the wake of these terrible hurricanes is indicative of a concept that many of you have probably heard me talk about before, but it always bears repeating: homeland security is about the integration of a nation.  State and local governments, communities, businesses, organizations and citizens, all coming together around a shared goal of protecting our nation and safeguarding our people from those who would seek to do us harm.

The private sector is an important element of that integration. In fact, you are critical to the fight against terrorism – whether through research and development of new technologies, protection of privately-owned critical infrastructure, or coordination in the event of a particular threat, as we saw with the financial services sector this summer.

That’s why we have improved information sharing and coordination with the private sector, and reached out to form partnerships with businesses through programs such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and Free and Secure Trade Lanes.

The simple fact is that the private sector helps keep us secure, by keeping our economy moving forward. The private sector provides the tools, technologies, and best practices that are being used today – and developed for tomorrow – to protect our homeland. And you contribute to the planning, preparation, and policy making that occurs at the federal, state, and local level.

We cannot secure the homeland without the cooperation – in fact, the complete commitment – of the private sector, and that means everyone from small businesses to large corporations.

Now, I have spoken a little bit about natural disasters, and a little bit about protecting against terrorism. It’s why I like to refer to the Department of Homeland Security as an “all-hazards” agency.  

And, as such, we will continue to educate the public and businesses about the importance of being prepared for all emergencies, whether wrought by disaster or design.  Our goal is to achieve seamless protection – a nation knit tightly together by shared vigilance, readiness, and communication.

After all, no government entity, no organization, no information expert can replace individual responsibility.

When it comes to preparedness, citizens and business owners must choose to take action. Our job is to make that choice an easy and informed one.  

The success of our preparedness efforts, and ultimately the entire homeland security mission, depends on the involvement and work of our citizens. Because if our communities and businesses are to rise to new levels of preparedness and security, each individual American must choose to make emergency planning a priority – a priority in our homes and at our places of work.

Our history as Americans has been marked by citizens ever ready to lend a hand and answer the call of those in need.  The spirit displayed so prominently in the wake of 9-11 – and again during this hurricane season – can be our most powerful tool in the fight against terrorism.

We must harness that power, focus that energy, effectively use that tool to make preparedness part of the daily operations of every American business – as it already is for so many across the country.

Fortunately, there is a willingness to take on this responsibility.  It’s no surprise that Americans want to help. They just need to know how.

As you know, the Department of Homeland Security has begun to inform Americans about preparedness and awareness through our Ready campaign. With the help of many people in this room, millions of Americans have responded, and have put together emergency kits and family communications plans.

To further this effort, for the first time we are marking September as National Preparedness Month. Over the past three weeks, more than 80 organizations and all 56 states and territories have held events across the country and distributed critical preparedness information to more people in their communities.  

For instance, visitors to the local Starbucks coffee shop can walk away with a Family Communication Plan brochure.  

NASCAR fans will see public service announcements and will receive preparedness information at race kiosks.  

The Red Cross has mobilized its chapters to host preparedness fairs and first aid training.  

And our state and local partners are spreading the message across America with rallies, media campaigns, preparedness booths, and town hall meetings.

The response – from both the public and private sector – has been overwhelming. Many of you in this room have contributed to the singular success of the Ready campaign and National Preparedness Month, but I know that all of you believe we can do even better.

And that is why we are here today. It is my pleasure to launch Ready Business. This extension of the Ready campaign will help owners and managers of small and medium sized businesses prepare their employees, operations and assets in the event of an emergency.

I have seen first-hand over the past several weeks how important a family ready kit and emergency plan can be – and the same is true for businesses.  

The steps business owners and managers can take to protect your operations and your employees – not to mention your bottom line – are simple, but the consequences of not taking action could be severe.

Small businesses employ half of all workers in the private sector and provide nearly 45 percent of the nation’s total payroll. If these businesses are ready to survive and recover from any emergency…then the nation and our economy will be more secure.

Similar to the Ready Campaign’s emphasis: get a kit, make a plan, be informed. Ready Business is organized around three themes: plan to stay in business, talk to your employees, protect your investment.

It is not by accident that these are action-oriented suggestions – being ready means taking actions now that will protect your company and employees later.

It’s important to make a plan. Talk to your suppliers and customers and know how they might be affected. Understand how your business operates so you can shift decision making if necessary. Assign responsibilities and develop procedures for crisis situations – including evacuation and shelter-in-place plans. Make provisions so that a disaster or attack won’t necessarily impede your payroll, your sales or your delivery of goods or services to customers.

It’s important to talk to your people. Include employees from all areas of your organization in the emergency planning process. Develop a communications plan that will allow you to contact employees on or off-site. Run drills and table-top exercises that simulate situations your business could face, and allow employees to practice their role in keeping themselves and each other safe.

It’s important to protect your investment. Talk to a professional about insurance coverage. Configure your office or storefront and valuable assets so that damage will be mitigated in the event of a natural disaster. Take steps to protect everything from your physical space to your presence in cyber-space with security systems, back-up generators, and online virus protection.

These steps are just a sample of the detailed guidance for businesses available on the new website. I encourage everyone to visit the site; whether you are a small business owner, employee, or interested citizen.

Preparation begins with every individual taking action. Thanks to the efforts of millions of Americans – and everyone in this room – our country is better prepared and more secure today than ever before.

But until every community has prepared for a potential attack.., until every business has an evacuation and “shelter in place” plan, until every school child knows what to do in an emergency, until every American is “ready”, there will be work remaining.

We must face these challenges together. And we will. For in this fight, it’s not enough to mount an army. It’s not enough to build a Department. It’s not enough to work in isolation.

Preparedness requires the vigilance of every American, the diligent work of every business, and the collective will of our entire nation. Everyone pledged to freedom’s cause, everyone its beneficiary, and, thus, everyone its protector. I have every confidence that we will achieve this victory that we will continue to rise to new heights of security, protection and preparation.

You’ve helped us come this far and I appreciate your willingness to help us go the distance. The work you’ve done this month – and will do in weeks and months ahead as we launch Ready Business – will help ensure the future of our Nation, and the safety and security of your friends, families, and fellow citizens.

Thank you. And now I would like to invite one of the Department’s long-standing partners to the podium to discuss our advertising campaign: Peggy Conlon of the The Ad Council.

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This page was last modified on 09/23/04 00:00:00