Why Participating in Project Impact Makes Sense

The purpose of Project Impact, in any community, is to create a Disaster Resistant Community. This means to lessen the impact of disaster in a community, whatever the exposure may be. Here in Seattle, we are focusing on earthquake and landslides, but in other communities their exposure may be flood or winter storms.

Why would a business participate?

A community is made up of many parts, which include the public sector, various government agencies, the private sector (small, large, and non-profit businesses), neighborhood organizations, scientists, academicians, volunteer groups, and many others. Businesses are a part of the community. A business relies on a community, as that is where their physical structure resides, where its customers are, and where its employees live. Other parts of the community rely on the businesses as a working part to maintain the economic viability. If a community does not work together in preparing for and mitigating against a disaster, the community will struggle to recover after a disaster occurs. Losses can be both financially damaging for a company not being able to reopen a business, and in terms of lives lost. Also, a business that is proactive in the community shows, to current and potentially new customers, that it cares.

A part of any Project Impact community is education. For a business, that means the education of your employees, customers, and the community at large. You may also have information that when shared with the general public, like an in-house produced video, shows your efforts of good will. Education will also help you as a business to recover from a disaster, as a prepared workforce can return to work more quickly.

How does a business get involved?

Over a hundred Project Impact communities have been designated across the United States. The lead agency is usually the city/county Emergency Management or Emergency Services office. For a larger company, you may have a Community Relations/Development Department. You may also have some existing programs that would tie in nicely to Project Impact. Many times, Project Impact allows a business an opportunity to work on something they haven't received support for in the past, or that is all together new. A project focused on by Project Impact is good for the community, which falls in line with most company's mission statements. In Seattle, call Seattle Emergency Management at (206) 615-0288.

What does it mean to participate? Does it cost money?

It can, but it doesn't have to. Businesses contribute what they can, and what works for them. "Participation" varies among organizations. In Seattle, one organization provided in-kind printing services for a brochure, while another underwrote catering for a Disaster Saturday event, and yet another business provided the expertise of one of its employees to work on our web site.

The main idea to keep in mind is that once the seed money runs out, in order for these projects to keep making a difference in the community, a way needs to be found to help them survive. Projects of substance should be created that need sustained support, perhaps money, and need to be seen as integral to the health and viability of the community. After a few years, if the projects seem like an "extra" instead of indispensable, something went wrong in the original project design. So, annual support from companies may become a part of the longevity of Project Impact, but no matter how you look at it there must be Commitment, community-wide, for long-term success to occur.