July 4, 2023

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2022 is on Monday, July 4, 2022. From the History Channel Website.

Support Our Troops.

BICEPP - Helping Businesses Become Disaster Resilient
Founded under the direction of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in 1983

What: BICEPP is a non-profit professional association of emergency management and business continuity professionals from both the private and public sector.

Mission: Our goal is to provide a forum for information exchange to enhance emergency preparedness and contingency planning within the business community.

Website: On this site, you’ll find BICEPP's scheduled events:

• Links to programs and events of interest to our members and friends
• Articles, links and resources helpful for the business and disaster communities
• Specific disaster related information for the business community.

If you are new to BICEPP, we hope you will consider joining BICEPP to gain access to reduced event fees and resources reserved for BICEPP members only.



     Click to Become a BICEPP Member      

PLEASE NOTE:
BICEPP's logo is considered proprietary. If you would like to use it on your website or on other promotional material, BICEPP must approve the use prior to any use.

Quick Access to BICEPP Scheduled Programs


Staying Open for Business After Disasters? (October 12)
Presentation and Q&A by BICEPP President Chris Wright. (October 12, 2023 - 9:00 to 10:30 am) (More info below)

Register Here      Staying Open Flyer Here

Links to Non-BICEPP Programs


Crisis Alert & Warning: A Look Inside   (June 13)

Join the ACP Los Angeles Chapter in this free, virtual event with alert and warning leader Soraya Sutherlin, MPA, CEM

Details and Registration Here

Calendar of Events
NOTE: BICEPP's Board of Director meetings are open to everyone - currently virtual

“Staying Open for Business After Disasters”
October 12, 2023 - 9:00 to 10:30 am (PST)

Virtual presentation by Chris Wright, BICEPP's President

2023 Staying Open for Business After Disasters.pdf     Register here

The effects of disasters on businesses can be quite profound: 
More than one in four businesses will experience a significant crisis each year; of those businesses that experience a disaster and have no emergency plan, 43 percent never reopen; of those that do reopen, only 29 percent are still operating two years later.

Presenter:
Our presenter, Chris Wright, is the current BICEPP President and an experienced emergency and business continuity planner with over 30 years of knowledge helping businesses prepåare for, manage, and recover from a variety of business impacting emergencies. 

Join Us:
Join us for this informative webinar to learn key planning activities and simple approaches to get an emergency and recovery plan in place for your business.

Fees:
• Free to current BICEPP members
• $20 for non-members 

 
2023 Staying Open for Business Flyer          Register here

Become a BICEPP Member

    
BICEPP Membership Brochure Here     Sign-up for Membership Here

A Special Thanks to BICEPP's Generous Sponsors

Nominations Are Being Accepted for BICEPP's 2023 Award's Presentation this November

Both members and friends of BICEPP are encouraged to nominate any person, group or organization who has contributed significantly to the field of emergency preparedness, management, mitigation, response or planning. Nominees should be role models to other emergency professionals (aspiring and veteran) and demonstrate dedication, positive attitude and outstanding job performance. Awardee’s will be recognized at BICEPP’s Annual Award’s Dinner in November.

2023 BICEPP Award Nomination Process    Nominate Here

Please send relevant job openings to BICEPP for posting consideration.

Current postings here

Great, well received session. Thank you Stacy.

Red Tagged. Now What?

In person presentation and Q&A by Stacy Gerlich (lunch & learn)

Wednesday, April 19, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Must register by Apr 19, 2023

Download Flyer Here     Register Here

This event is provided for free and is presented cooperatively by BICEPP and the American Society of Safety Professionals. Lunch is included, but there is a parking fee of $13.20.

Description:
What would be the impact to your business if you were not able to access your building? A "red-tagged" structure is one that’s been damaged so severely it is too dangerous to inhabit. Structures can be red tagged for a variety of reasons. Learn how Red Tagging might affect your business. 

Presenter:
Stacy Gerlich (StacyGerlich@gmail.com) Stacy is an expert in dealing with all types of disasters and understands the challenges of Red Tagging a structure. Stacy is a retired LA City Fire Battalion Chief who will share valuable information about the Red Tagging process and answer your questions. Stacy provides expert disaster preparedness services to a variety of clients.

Next BICEPP VTTX – Wildfire Urban Interface: 2nd quarter 2023

Flooding - Virtual Tabletop Exercise - Well received & attended

March 23, 2023 10am to Noon

What:
As part of our Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) series, BICEPP will be facilitating a Flooding scenario VTTX. This VTTX will focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of flooding from a winter storm and other secondary hazards such as landslides, sinkholes, etc. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. This scenario can be

2023 BICEPP Mar 23 Flooding VTTX Flyer.pdf

ARKStorm Scenario.pdf

Mixer - Awesome Get-together & Premier

Thursday, March 2, 2023, 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Sizzle Reel Premier at 6:30

Ireland’s 32 Pub (Appetizers will be provided )

BICEPP In-Person Mixer

The BICEPP Board of Directors is excited to invite you to join them for a networking mixer in honor of BICEPP’s new organization marketing advertisement “Sizzle Reel”. This is a great opportunity to meet the Board members and others in Emergency Preparedness.

2023 BICEPP Invitation March 2, 2023.pdf

2022 BICEPP Annual Awards Dinner Was Awesome (Nov 17)

It was an especially meaningful, wonderful and emotional hosting this year's Awards Dinner after two years of COVID cancellations. And as expected, the Proud Bird Events Center was excellent. A truly fantastic event, made possible through the work of several dedicated BICEPP members, directed by the persistence of 37-year member and officer holder Chris Wright. If you missed this year, please put Nov 2023 on your calendar now.

The 2022 award recipients are as follows:

• President’s Award - USGS ShakeAlert®

• Rising Star - Nathaniel Moore - Safe-T-Proof

• Award of Excellence - Mark Benthien – Earthquake Country Alliance; ALERTWildfire; Glen Granholm – Safe-T-Proof; Mona Bontty – CalOES (retired); and Dr. Rita Burke – USC - Keck School of Medicine

• Award of Recognition -  Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (T-CEP); Quake Cottage; Carol Parks – City of Los Angeles EMD; Jill Barnes – LAUSD; and John Bwarie – Stratiscope

2022 BICEPP Awards Dinner Invite.pdf      Click for more information and a slide show

ShakeAlert®: Building an Earthquake Resilient Business - Sep 22

These world-renowned experts will shed light on the history, insights, access, and important real-world use in business: Introduction to ShakeAlert (Dr. Robert de Groot); Benefits of ShakeAlert to the Business Community (Margaret Vinci); Cedar-Sinai Hospital ShakeAlert Implementation Case Study (Ryan Tuchmayer); and ShakeAlert Earthquake Drill Manual (Dr Gabriel Lotto).

 2022 BICEPP ShakeAlert Panel Discussion Flyer  BICEPP Members can access this webinar via BICEPP's Members Only Access section

Tsunami Hits Ventura (May 12)

Dan Wall, City of Ventura Emergency Manager, will:

1. Discuss the impact a tsunami had to Ventura in Jan 2022 (there have been at least nine since 1812 causing local damage).
2. Present exerts from the “After Action Report” outlining damage and several recommended solutions going forward.
3. Take-aways include: How do you assess the risk of a tsunami? Who will be in charge? How do you assess damage? And solutions going forward

Tsunami Hits Ventura County.pdf

Family Reunification - Earthquake (April 1)

Program:

BICEPP is hosting a Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI). This VTTX will focus on reunifying unaccompanied minors and separated or missing children with their parents or legal guardians in the aftermath of a disaster. 

Handouts available for BICEPP members in the Members Only section of the website

 Earthquake  - Free Virtual Tabletop Exercise (Mar 10)

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX will focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of an earthquake, as well as the interdisciplinary and interagency coordination at the Federal, State Regional and local level. This scenario can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by BICEPP.

BICEPP Earthquake Flyer.pdf

Active Threat - Mall Shooting (Jan 13)

According to the FBI, active shooter incidents occur at places of businesses and retail stores – including shopping malls – more than at any other location.

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX will focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of an active shooter scenario, as well as the interdisciplinary and interagency coordination both at the local, state, and Federal level. This scenario can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by BICEPP.

BICEPP Active Threat – Mall Shooting.pdf

Preparing Your Business to Survive the Next Disaster (July 29)

...and even the next one!

Emergencies and disasters are a part of life in Southern California. Our businesses and industries should be prepared. Ines Pearce is an expert in business resiliency and will present the best ways to ensure your business is prepared to survive the next disaster and all disasters to follow.

Preparing For Disasters - Ines Pearce BICEPP.pdf

Active Threat - Vehicle as a Weapon (July 15)

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX will focus on a simulate an attack taking place using a vehicle as the weapon and can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting, and can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by the participating agency.

BICEPP Active Threat - Vehicle VTTX Flyer.pdf

BICEPP's Virtual Mixer (May 19)

 This event was sponsored by BICEPP's Membership Committee  2021Committee May 19 BICEPP Virtual Networking Flyer.pdf

Cyber Security - Virtual Tabletop Exercise (Apr 22)

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX is designed for organizations interested in raising awareness of cyber risk management, cyber related planning, and other issues related to cyber incident prevention, protection, and response. The scenario will focus on increasingly complex and severe cyber threats, beginning with general information on a potential security risk and culminating with the containment, eradication, and recovery from a cyber-incident.

Download Flyer - 2021 Apr 22 BICEPP Cyber Security VTTX Flyer TK.pdf

Healthcare Emergency Management in the Era of COVID-19 (April 7)

Emergency management in a healthcare environment has its own unique challenges, especially in the time of COVID-19. UCLA Health’s Emergency Management Program uses an “all hazards” approach to ensure effective mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery to disasters and emergencies that affect the hospital environment of care. With this approach, UCLA Health was able to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to progress on other emergency preparedness initiatives and maintaining readiness for other disasters. 

Flyer - 2021 Apr 7 Healthcare Webinar.pdf   Video of Event Here (Member Only Access)

Anticipating the Behavioral Challenges of COVID-19 & Civil Unrest (Dec 9)

This webinar will help professionals working in emergency management, business continuity, security and public safety roles better manage the consequences of the current threat landscape. Steve Crimando of Behavioral Science Applications LLC, will address the unique behavioral elements of COVID-19 and civil unrest, as well as providing approaches to anticipating and responding to the human impacts of these events.

Webinar Flyer Here     WFH SECURITY WHITE PAPER.PDF     BICEPP CHAPTER MEETING.pdf    

ShakeOut - for Staff Working from Home (Oct 21)

Caltech's Margaret Vinci will discuss the challenges of preparing for a disaster duri ng times of COVID-19. Since so many staff are working from home offices, make sure they are included in your disaster plans & ShakeOut Drill. Resources for the ShakeOut Drill for staff working from home will be provided.

Webinar Flyer Here      Video recording is available to BICEPP members  (Member Only Access)

The Birth of CERT (Sep 2)

LAFD Assistant Fire Chief Frank Borden, aka “The Father of CERT”. Frank will talk about the - Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program from the beginnings in Los Angeles to the nationwide FEMA program we know today.

BICEPP The Birth of CERT Flyer.pdf  Video recording is available to BICEPP member  (Member Only Access)

EARTHQUAKES: Why all businesses SHOULD do what California Hospitals MUST Do (Jun 24)

Join BICEPP board member Glen Granholm of Safe-T-Proof, for an informative talk covering recent changes to the California Building Code as well as guidance from OSHPD (The Office of Statewide Healthcare Planning & Development) that clarify the changes. These resources can make it easier for organizations to decide what items in their facility should be secured in advance of an earthquake.

How Social Media Has Devastated Public Relations (Feb 12)

How has social media has changed the relationship a company has with the public during and after a crisis?  Ken Kondo, an expert in dealing with the press and social media, will share his experiences and answer questions on how social media has changed our world.

Devastated Social Media BICEPP Flyer.pdf