This year, the Association of Washington Business (AWB) will step up its involvement with the Washington’s Emergency Management Council to help the state’s business community deal with homeland security and terrorism.

As part of that increased participation, AWB President Don Brunell, a retired Washington Army National Guard officer, has been appointed as the private sector member of the state’s Emergency Management Council on Terrorism started in January. Other AWB members may be asked to serve on other critical committees dealing with homeland security.

“Since 80 percent of the terrorism targets are in the private sector,” Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, Washington’s Adjutant General and head of the state’s Emergency Management Dept., said, “we need to involve the private sector in our planning, coordination and response.” That was the heart of Lowenberg’s message to AWB members at the Association’s winter meeting in Seattle.

AWB initiated its stepped up activities in October by conducting a series of focus groups with business leaders in Spokane and Olympia.

“The idea was to get input from our members about their security concerns and to find ways to coordinate the work of the private and public sectors,” Brunell said. “That input was extremely valuable to the Dept. of Emergency Services.”

Because of Washington’s strategic position with its military bases, international airports, seaports and border with Canada, AWB believes private sector coordination is essential.

“We depend on goods and people moving by rail, truck and bus across borders and to and from our water and aircraft terminals,” Brunell said. Because of our location and level of commerce, we are more vulnerable than some other states and regions.”

“If a major act of terrorism occurs in our state, our public resources will quickly reach capacity,” Brunell said. “We have to augment police, fire and emergency personnel responses with those, which the private sector is developing or is putting in place. The more we know about our capabilities and coordinating capacity, the better we can protect our critical infrastructure, provide essential services, and overcome the terrorist act as quickly as possible.”

Brunell encouraged all businesses to develop disaster recovery plans. In early 2004, AWB will be publishing prototype plans, guidelines and checklists, which employers and families can use. The idea is to have everyone prepared as quickly as possible.

“Certainly, part of the plan will be ways to protect data bases so the businesses can function as quickly and safely as possible following an attack,” Brunell said. “AWB believes the private sector will play a pivotal role in providing food, water, electricity, fuel and telecommunications during large-scale emergencies.”

“Many large employers have extensive plans to deal with emergencies,” Brunell concluded. “AWB hopes to provide the same awareness, assistance and coordination for the state’s small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.”

In the coming months, check AWB’s website (www.awb.org) for more details.