Vision to Reality: The Reut Blog

In the face of the security instability, the possibility of strong earthquakes or Tsunami waves hitting Israel’s shores poses a real challenge for both the public and private sectors in Israeli society. In order to fully tap into the resources of the business sector, a ‘Culture of Preparedness’ must become an integral part of its corporate social responsibility strategy.

In the case of a national crisis, when a majority of the population in many areas is exposed to severe danger and shortages, the capacities and resources of the emergency authorities will not be sufficient to address the needs and the expectations of the population. Therefore, the contribution of the business sector to the resilience of the home front will have crucial impact.

In order to fully tap into the resources of the business sector, the Culture of Preparedness must become an integral part of their corporate social responsibility strategy. In Israel, most businesses lack a preparedness plan for emergencies or a comprehensive understanding of the role they can play to assist others. In contrast, businesses in Japan, Florida and California have adopted preparedness as part of their business culture, promoting the relevant values in the workplace.

In order for a corporation to instill a ‘Culture of Preparedness’ a few steps must be taken, among which are: encourage the employees to prepare their families for emergencies, buy the necessary equipment, allocate employees to volunteer during emergencies in nearby community centers, elderly homes and kindergartens, cooperate with nonprofit organizations which are essential during emergencies, provide basic training to the employees in first-aid and rescue efforts, and provide the emergency authorities with the necessary back-up.

Once corporations include emergency preparedness as an integral part of their social responsibility towards their employees and communities, they will then answer to their interests of continuing to function ‘under fire’, as well as make a crucial contribution to national resilience