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ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Page 9 Continued on page 10 Free FEMA Training for Small Businesses and Community-Based Organizations Is your business ready for a disaster? Do you have a plan in place to continue working should things outside your control affect your operations? How will your supply chain be affected by a disaster? Ensure you remain "OPEN" for business even after an emergency occurs. In support of National Preparedness Month, FEMA recently released a new preparedness training to help you better prepare for disasters. Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs (OPEN) is designed for community-based organizations (CBOs), including small businesses and nonprofits that support their local communities. OPEN includes both a web-based, self-guided training, and a downloadable instructor kit that will guide you on how to identify risks, locate resources, and take preparedness actions. When Community-Based Organizations, such as food pantries, daycares, and non-profits, are unable to sustain operations during an emergency incident, individuals who rely on them are exponentially impacted. Because of their importance in keeping the community going, OPEN is designed to empower these organizations to better prepare for incidents. Please consider taking this new and engaging course and watch this video to learn more. You can also join FEMA tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the new OPEN training, and how it will help CBOs prepare for incidents and continue providing services after a disaster. To register, click here. According to the American Red Cross, 94 percent of small business owners believe a disaster could affect their business within the next two years. Disasters provide CBOs with unique challenges. For example, what happens when childcare centers and food banks are unable to reopen after a disaster occurs? With this valuable training, CBOs are empowered to prepare for disasters and continue to provide vital community services during times of need. OPEN training will help you: • Learn 10 actions you can take to keep your organization operating in the event of a disaster; • Create a path forward to develop a disaster response plan; • Ensure the safety of workers and individuals; and • Stay strong in the face of all emergencies, including a pandemic.