On Thursday, March 15, 2018, small to medium-sized businesses and organizations across Connecticut will be participating in the American Red Cross’ Ready Rating Business Continuity and Resilience Workshop.

This workshop is a free two-and-a-half-hour training, conducted by members of the American Red Cross National Young Professionals Council, that is designed for key personnel from businesses and organizations to learn about and utilize tools that will allow them to reopen – and stay open – in the face of any emergency. The workshop will provide participants with valuable insight to creating an “all-hazards” continuity plan, and it will help prioritize preparing for emergencies that are most likely to impact their business and community.

On average, in the United States, fires alone cause of $7 billion in property damage annually. Together, the Red Cross and workshop participants are taking a stand to decrease Connecticut’s contribution to that staggering figure. Recognizing that not all fires or emergencies can be prevented, participants will leave with a thorough understanding of resiliency actions they can take to ensure that, if an emergency does happen to their business, they’ll be well positioned to bounce back.

In addition to learning about the most important features of business continuity planning, workshop participants will:

- Complete key components of building their organization’s continuity plan, 

- Learn about the American Red Cross Ready Rating program and resource center,

- Receive free resources and tools to advance their organization’s readiness after the workshop concludes,

- And proactively contribute to overall community resiliency.

“This workshop is such a powerful way to build community– we couldn’t be more excited to facilitate this training to help Connecticut small businesses and organizations rest assured they will be able to open their doors after any emergency,” said Mario Bruno, Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut and Rhode Island Region of the American Red Cross. “The workshop, which essentially is a commitment that these businesses are making to planning, will surely contribute to community resilience after any disaster, no matter how great or small.”

For more information about these workshops or any Red Cross program, please contact cristen.hodgers@redcross.org.