Business Response Task Force

Getting Down to Business: The Report of the BENS Business Response Task Force

At the request of the senior leadership of both the United States Senate and House of Representatives, in June 2006 BENS formed a Task Force to recommend to the U.S. government steps to systematically integrate the capabilities of the private sector — principally those of the business community — into a comprehensive national disaster response mechanism.

BENS did so in response not only to the federal government’s recognition of a pressing need in the aftermath of Katrina but also to the overwhelming demand of its membership. During the summer and autumn of 2005, many BENS members and their companies experienced first-hand the reality that the role of business in response to national disasters has not been appropriately established — neither at the local and state nor national levels.

In preparing the report, the Task Force assiduously mined the wealth of experience of its members and other executives — completing over 100 surveys — in developing its findings.

During the late summer and fall of 2006, the report, in draft form, was circulated widely and briefed to federal and congressional agencies and staff, the White House, senior leaders at the National Governors Association and the Association of State Attorneys General, U.S. Northern Command, professional associations, and corporate leaders around the country. While the conclusions are those of the Task Force, the report benefits immeasurably from comments and suggestions made by our government and business colleagues.

The report’s recommendations fall into three substantive categories: public-private collaboration; surge capacity/supply chain management; and legal & regulatory environment. In addition, the report specifies priorities and sequencing for implementing its recommendations.

Currently, the project is in its implementation phase and is pursuing:

• Development of a Business Emergency Management Assistance Compact (“BEMAC”) concept;
• Congressional hearings to review and generate support for the Task Force recommendations;
• Assistance to DHS in the re-write of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Plan (NRP);
• Development of a mechanism by which the federal government might suspend applicable regulations in a more efficient manner.

Click here to read “Getting Down to Business,” the report of the BENS Business Response Task Force