NORWALK SCORE and CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO OFFER FREE BUSINESS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY WORKSHOP

On August 8th, The City of Norwalk in partnership with SCORE and the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce is offering a free workshop and expo for Norwalk businesses of all sizes. The National Weather Service (noaa.gov) has predicted a 70% chance for an above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2013. In response to these predictions and the impact already felt by hurricanes Sandy and Irene, this workshop and expo will help businesses learn how to protect their staff and facilities as well as how to respond and recover after an event and what assistance is available to help businesses after a disaster.
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia welcomed the plan to offer the workshop: “Our City depends heavily on the readiness of the business community to shoulder the brunt of a storm and get back into operation quickly. In such situations business citizens become partners with the government in restoring normal life for all residents. I hope our business leaders take advantage of this important opportunity to learn the best practices to confront and recover from the impact of storms.”

Brian Baxendale of SCORE emphasized the need for this seminar: "Every business needs to serve its customers and clients, its employees and itself during times of individual or regional crisis. We felt together with the City of Norwalk and the Chamber that this workshop was a must to provide for the business community.”

Said Edward J. Musante, President of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, “Good business leaders plan for various emergencies and we have certainly seen in recent years that being prepared for natural disasters is among the most important readiness exercises a company can undertake. This seminar designs the get-ready strategies necessary before the storm and the what-next plans for quick and complete restoration. Chamber members really ought to attend.”The Business Preparedness and Disaster Recovery workshop is free to all businesses and community non-profit agencies, but pre-registration is requested. The event will take place in the Community Room at Norwalk City Hall at 125 East Ave. Registration begins at 8:00, presentations will take place from 8:30- 10:30 then a small expo will run from 10:30-11:30. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, Call SCORE at (203) 831-0065 or on-line at http://www.scorenorwalk.org/workshops.html