For many years, emergency preparedness and contingency planning were thought of as a luxury. Corporations were reluctant to allocate the necessary time, staff or funds to prepare for the possibility of emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, or floods. Many chief executives mistakenly believed that the sheer size of a corporation would ensure survival.

It has become increasingly clear that government's primary responsibility is to restore basic public services before rendering assistance to the private sector. Direct aid to individual businesses was not on the priority list. As a result, it was recommended that the private sector be self sufficient for a minimum of three days.

In 1983, the mayor of Los Angeles and a group of business leaders met to discuss disaster preparedness. This group subsequently became a steering committee and formed the Business and Industry Council for Emergency Planning and Preparedness (BICEPP).

BICEPP was established as a private sector, self- help association funded by annual sponsorship donations. BICEPP later evolved into a non-profit corporation, lead by an Executive Committee and a Board of Directors. The goal remains the same:

The first priority was to establish a central location where private sector representatives could obtain the latest information on emergency and disaster preparedness. The BICEPP / SCESA Resource Library now contains a multitude of books, manuals, pamphlets, articles, abstracts, and other reference materials on disaster planning, preparedness and recovery. Collected over many years, the materials range from complex corporate disaster plans and government publications to basic individual preparedness information.

Education is another BICEPP priority. Since 1984, BICEPP has sponsored ongoing seminars and workshops, such as "Psychological Response to Disasters," "Exercise Design," "Lessons Learned from the Northridge Earthquake," and others These seminars and workshops are specifically designed to promote emergency management, planning, education, and training.

The BICEPP Bulletin is published regularly and contains articles written by experts in the field of emergency management, search and rescue, and business resumption. It also features profiles of emergency managers, information on upcoming seminars and related events, and other timely emergency management news.

Most importantly, BICEPP provides networking opportunities. That alone is one of the best reasons to join and become a partner in preparedness. Most emergency management concepts are not new. Even though some data may be confidential, BICEPP members freely exchange information about their emergency plans, particularly members in similar industries. New innovations are discussed, refined and shared. One call usually produces an answer to a question or problem.

BICEPP has a wide range of sponsors, including Fortune 500 companies, small business owners and individual consultants. Sponsorship is available to both the private and public sectors. Many of our sponsors represent federal, state, county or city offices of emergency services, law enforcement agencies or fire departments. These members provide valuable contacts as well as professional advice, support and cooperation.

Now, more than ever before, business and industry must become more self-reliant. Pre-disaster mitigation measures and post-disaster recovery plans are essential to retain market share and the competitive edge. We hope that the success of BICEPP inspires others to emulate or create organizations that assist business and industry. By working together, we can efficiently prepare to handle any crisis.