APOM Foundation
Office Disaster Relief
Inspired by Hurricane Katrina 2005
Donate to the Office Disaster Relief Fund
Office Disaster Relief Forum (currently
inactive)
The National
Emergency Resource Registry
Links to
other resources
In addition to homes that are destroyed by natural disasters, small and non-profit offices
can also be destroyed. This means
computer systems (with websites, accounting records, personnel records,
etc.), office equipment (phone systems, copiers, fax machines, printers,
etc), and office furniture can be destroyed, incapacitating the office
and business.
The APOM Foundation is preparing for these disasters by publishing
information about what destroyed offices and businesses
need in order to get back in
business quickly. For example, we learned on September 6, 2005
after Hurricane Katrina, that some businesses were able to operate but, because the homes of
their employees had been destroyed, the company's biggest need was
nearby housing for their employees.
The APOM
Foundation has established an Office Disaster Relief fund and is
soliciting donations that will be used exclusively to assist offices
destroyed by natural disasters.
Office Disaster Relief
Forum
The APOM Foundation also hosts an online
Office Disaster Relief forum. This forum is activated following a
natural disaster and can be used by victims to tell their office disaster story, post requests for resources needed, and
by those responding to post resources that are available to others.
In times of
natural disaster, we also urge office managers to use the Department of Homeland Security's new
National Emergency Resource Registry (see below).
Additionally, the
APOM Foundation and the Association of Professional Office Managers
publishes information on what offices and
businesses should do to prepare for disaster recovery.
The APOM Foundation feels strongly that a
central, national online database is the best solution for matching
those in need with those who can help and urges managers to also use the The
Department of Homeland Security's National Emergency Resource Registry
("NERR"). While the APOM Foundation's Office
Relief forum and the many other forums created in response to the
disaster are self-administering and efficient, the central resources may
be more comprehensive.
If your office or business was impacted
by the disaster, you can 'request a resource'.
If your office or business can help those
impacted by the disaster, you can 'add a resource'.
You must
register on the NERR system
so that you can add and edit posts and so that you can be notified when
there is a match.
|
