Video and Photo: Leading CEOs Launch Alliance With American Red Cross to Strengthen Nation's Preparedness for...( WASHINGTON Sept. 21 -- Business ...),Health

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Business Roundtable and the American Red Cross announced a new collaboration through the Roundtable's Partnership for Disaster Response. The Partnership is an initiative to galvanize the business community to contribute its vast resources -- beyond financial contributions -- to accelerate on-the-ground relief and recovery activities following major national disasters. This announcement is timed with National Preparedness Month, a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, communities, and businesses.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:

http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/americanredcross/29733/

The collaboration includes several activities to help the private and nonprofit sectors work together to strengthen our nation's disaster response system:

-- Introducing new communications channels to improve the flow of

information and efficiencies between the business community and the Red

Cross

-- Using the Partnership's Web site - http://www.respondtodisaster.org - to share

companies' first-hand reports from a disaster site with the Red Cross

to expedite relief and recovery efforts

-- Strengthening systems to match community needs with the resources

companies are able to provide during a disaster

-- Enhancing corporate and individual employee preparedness efforts by

encouraging them to Be Red Cross Ready

-- Expanding a model program to train employees to serve as Red Cross

volunteers during a disaster - Ready When the Time Comes

-- Installing a representative of the business community in the Red Cross'

Disaster Operations Center

"Companies play a pivotal role in responding to disasters as we saw
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