475
DisasterMan
The FEMA Guidebook has numerous suggestions as to ways to
communicate the potential advantages of disaster resistant communities
to the public and the local participants. The media resources include
newspapers (daily, weekly, monthly, college, and community), city and
regional magazines, local trade and business publications, chamber of
commerce newsletters, local radio and television stations, local cable
stations, and now the Internet.
Institute For Business & Home Safety
The Institute for Business & Home Safety in Boston, Massachusetts is
sponsoring a different private sector project, but one which has many of
the same goals as FEMA's efforts to create disaster resistant communities.
The Institute's project is called `Showcase Communities.' The purpose of
the Showcase Community program is to demonstrate the benefi ts of taking
specifi c, creative steps within an entire community to reduce deaths,
injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused
by natural disasters. There are 67 insurance industry companies which are
members of the Institute for Business & Home Safety.
The Showcase Communities program has three key objectives:
1. Help a community help itself by reducing its vulnerability to hurricanes,
earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfi res, fl oods or whatever natural disasters
threaten it.
2. Generate a `me too' attitude among other communities by showcasing
the successful efforts of particular jurisdictions.
3. Learn what works and what does not work to reduce the emotional and
fi nancial devastation caused by natural disasters.
The Institute for Business & Home Safety has established 14 areas for
participation in the program. Those criteria ask that the community:
1. Formally commit to participation by adopting a formal resolution to that
effect
2. Adopt or agree to adopt the latest version of one of the model building
codes as the minimum code and enforce it
3. Participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if in a
fl oodplain and apply for/participate in the NFIP's Community Rating
System
4. Receive a suitable Fire Suppression Rating System grade from the
Insurance Services Offi ce
5. Complete a risk assessment or agree to do so