Business response seen as crucial to disaster recovery

Business response seen as crucial to disaster recovery: "Business response seen crucial to disaster recovery

By Beth McConnell

The U.S. private sector donated $1.9 billion in disaster assistance in 2005 in response to the Southeast Asia tsunami, the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the earthquake in Pakistan.

That total set new records in corporate giving for disaster relief and recovery, according to the Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC), an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Companies have learned lessons along the way about the need to coordinate with relief agencies before a disaster strikes in order to best utilize the money or products that they donate. Also, BCLC leaders said, coordinating with local governments and establishing a presence at the scene of the disaster are crucial to provide the best relief and recovery efforts."