Deloitte and Nonprofit Roundtable Release Groundbreaking Disaster Preparedness Strategic...

Deloitte and Nonprofit Roundtable Release Groundbreaking Disaster Preparedness
Strategic Plan for Nonprofit Community

'Roadmap To Preparedness' Establishes A Blueprint For Cities Nationwide To
Follow In Coordinating Nonprofits' Readiness And Response In Times Of Crisis

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 www.deloitte.com/us/about for a
detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its
subsidiaries.

SOURCE Deloitte LLP

David Thompson, Public Relations, Deloitte, +1-404-942-6515 (office),
+1-404-386-6329 (mobile), davidthompson@deloitte.com, or Anna Lingeris, Senior
Advisor, MWW Group, +1-202-585-2276 (office), +1-202-355 4439 (mobile),
alingeris@mww.com