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November 2006                                                                            Volume 11 - Number 2

Preparedness...

The Role of the Greater Washington Board of Trade in Emergency Planning and Terrorism Response
By Doug Goodwin

The Greater Washington Board of Trade is a regional network of business and non-profit leaders representing the Washington, DC, northern Virginia and suburban Maryland areas.  This coalition of leaders maintains a wide range of advocacy issues, from improving the general business climate in the greater DC area to marketing the region.  The Board of Trade is also affiliated with several political action committees in an effort to further their advocacy through the support of certain political candidates.  With a large constituency and acting as the area’s only regional chamber of commerce representing all employment sectors, the Board of Trade has influence over a wide range of issues.

Specifically in the realm of Homeland Security, Emergency Planning and Terrorism Response, the Board of Trade has led the business community over the recent years.  The Board has done this in two specific, tangible ways.

As the only greater Washington organization with membership across all employment sectors, the Board of Trade is in the unique position to leverage various resources that may not be readily available in an emergency situation.  One important contribution to emergency planning is the development of a one-stop shop for private sector equipment that may be needed by first responders in the event of an emergency.  This data base includes assets such as heavy duty construction cranes for urban search and rescue to catering trucks to provide food to first responders.  This data base was made possible by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security in 2005.

The efforts of the Board are not limited to easing access to equipment in times of emergency.  The Board has also led citizen awareness campaigns focused on emergency planning.  These campaigns have the potential to reduce the impact of an emergency event by ensuring that the general public is well informed and potentially prepared, thereby easing the workload of first responders.

The Greater Washington Board of Trade has had a positive impact on emergency preparedness in the northern Virginia, DC, and suburban Maryland area.  For more information about the board, see their web site at:  http://www.bot.org/.