RILA Applauds Public-Private Partnership to Aid in Disaster Preparedness 

Arlington, VA - 8/30/2010 

Today the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for their efforts to incorporate the private sector into federal response and recovery efforts by including a private sector seat as a part of the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) and recruiting external affairs specialists for each of the ten FEMA regions.

“This partnership is a welcomed announcement, and we applaud FEMA for their outstanding leadership and commitment to working with the private sector on response and recovery efforts,” said Lisa LaBruno, vice president of loss prevention and legal affairs.

“Retailers pride themselves on providing effective and reliable support during times of crisis. Through the contribution of this new private sector position and the ten external affairs specialists, the retail industry, federal government and its state and local partners will have the ability to work together and be better prepared when disaster strikes,” LaBruno concluded.

External affairs specialist's will be responsible for developing and implementing communications strategies designed to enhance relationships with FEMA stakeholders — with a primary emphasis on private sector and stakeholders.

FEMA has created a private sector seat in the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) that will serve as a private sector position within FEMA for three month rotations.  The candidates will serve both the NRCC and the Private Sector Division through coordination, communication, and collaboration with industry and retailers.

RILA and its members are committed to working with federal agencies and other stakeholders to utilize public-private partnerships in response and recovery efforts. Through the work of the RILA Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Committee, which consists of retail executives charged with ensuring that their company is prepared to respond to a crisis, retailers remain informed with pertinent information from the Department of Homeland Security.

RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.