Deloitte LLP and the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington today released the "The Roadmap to Preparedness: A Strategic Plan to Address Unmet Needs in Nonprofit Emergency Preparedness for the National Capital Region." The Roadmap is one of the nation's first completed comprehensive plans to implement a regional metropolitan strategy for emergency preparedness in the nonprofit community.

Representatives from Greater Washington nonprofit organizations, joined by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, as well as disaster preparedness specialists from Deloitte, unveiled the plan, which is a two-year initiative led by the Nonprofit Roundtable and Deloitte, in collaboration with the National Capital Region nonprofit community.

Utilizing a "regional gap assessment" process that included surveys, stakeholder interviews, focus groups and a series of emergency preparedness training events, the plan addresses shortfalls in preparation efforts between area nonprofits, which serve a vital role as the proverbial "third leg of the disaster preparedness stool," working alongside government and the business community during a disaster.

The Roadmap will help the nonprofit community build plans to operate more effectively and efficiently during a time of regional crisis. It addresses such areas as: integrated planning and training; strengthened partnerships between nonprofits, government and the private sector; improved coordination and communication networks; and sustained capacity to respond to all-hazard events, emphasizing long-term recovery capabilities.

"Today's event is the culmination of nearly two years of intense activity," said Chuck Bean, executive director of the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington. "To get us here, we've met numerous times with the scores of nonprofit leaders represented here, along with Deloitte executives and public sector leaders, to listen, share experiences, educate, and drill. But this is just the beginning. We will now begin to implement this plan collectively as a nonprofit community."

The plan includes endorsements from government leaders, national nonprofit organizations and members of the business community. "'The Roadmap to Preparedness' plan goes a long way to ensuring our Greater Washington region is going to be better prepared for emergency situations. The Greater Washington Board of Trade applauds the leadership of the Nonprofit Roundtable and Deloitte LLP to better integrate the nonprofit community into the region's overall preparedness plans. We can take a page from their collaborative effort, in ensuring that the business community meets its obligations in ensuring the National Capital Region is a best practice in emergency response and preparedness planning and execution," said Jim Dinegar, President and CEO of The Greater Washington Board of Trade.

Keynote speaker Dennis Schrader, deputy administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, FEMA/DHS, noted in his remarks that, "As we've seen time and time again, this vital and diverse network of organizations often acts as the backbone of local response, providing services ranging from emergency shelter, to meals, to transportation and much more."

Schrader continued, "The nonprofit sector's unique resources and capabilities both complement and enhance public and private sector preparedness efforts and initiatives. Indeed, the 'Roadmap to Preparedness' exemplifies FEMA's commitment to work hand-in-hand with our partners. I applaud this important step forward in strengthening our nation's ability to prepare for and respond to disasters."

Some of the preparedness shortfalls highlighted during training exercises over the last two years were identified and addressed with the help of FEMA and DHS officials, who gave generously of their time to engage with their nonprofit constituencies.

For instance, Christopher T. Geldart, the director, Office of National Capital Region Coordination, FEMA/DHS, has provided guidance around key government planning details during several events, including an October 2007 discussion-focused exercise that tracked a mock pandemic flu outbreak in the Greater Washington area.

"Participating in these exercises has been extremely educational and rewarding," said Geldart. "The feedback we've received, and the open communication it has fostered, speaks directly to FEMA's mission to engage local communities. We applaud the leadership this group has shown in proactively preparing for the future."

The Nonprofit Roundtable received a $250,000 grant from Deloitte's Problem Solvers Fund to undertake this project, as well as more than 1000 hours of professional time donated by the firm. The Problem Solvers Fund invests financial support, skills-based volunteerism and leadership in nonprofits nationwide to build their capacity to address significant social issues in their communities.

"By joining with the Nonprofit Roundtable, Deloitte can donate not only our funding, but also our unique talents to strengthen our community's nonprofits," said Gary H. Tabach, Deloitte LLP's managing partner for Greater Washington. "In fact, this type of skills-based giving has become the hallmark of Deloitte's community involvement efforts nationwide."

This Roadmap is one of the first emergency preparedness strategic frameworks for a large metropolitan region that has a focus on the nonprofit community. The plan may serve as a best practices model or template for other cities across the country. In fact, nonprofit leaders and emergency managers from other large metropolitan areas who have reviewed the plan have commented that they look forward to incorporating elements into their own plans.

Deloitte and the Roundtable have received kudos from emergency management experts in other parts of the country as well. "While most everyone appreciates and understands the role of government in providing disaster assistance, the importance of community-based organizations in administering to the needs of underserved populations after disasters is often overlooked," said Paul Jacks, Program Director, Bay Area Preparedness Initiative at the Fritz Institute, a nonprofit disaster response leader in the San Francisco Bay area. "Deloitte and the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington should be commended for developing the Roadmap to Preparedness Strategic Plan which provides a clear path for non-profits to effectively and efficiently provide critical front line safety-net social services when disaster strikes. This work will benefit other communities as well, such as the San Francisco Bay Area."

As the implementation of the Roadmap begins, there will be opportunities to host regional and national events to engage other metropolitan areas interested in a blueprint for strengthening nonprofit emergency preparedness. These forums will be announced in the future.

About Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington

The Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization launched in 2002 by nonprofit leaders from across the metropolitan area. The mission of The Nonprofit Roundtable is to build the strength, influence and visibility of the nonprofit sector in Greater Washington. With nearly 200 members representing the broad diversity of the Greater Washington area's nonprofit community, the Nonprofit Roundtable strives to strengthen our collective voice on areas of vital importance to our region. Members are service providers, advocacy organizations, and grantmakers--from small community-based organizations to the region's largest foundation--there is a seat at the Roundtable and a role in shaping and advancing the nonprofit sector's common agenda.

About Deloitte

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and Deloitte Services LP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.