The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has recommended to the 9-11 Commission that a National Fire Protection Association standard, NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, be recognized as the national preparedness standard.
NFPA 1600, available free online in PDF format at www.nfpa.org, establishes a common set of criteria for disaster management, emergency management and business continuity programs. In addition, it identifies methodologies for exercising those plans and provides a listing of resource organizations within the fields of disaster recovery, emergency management and business continuity planning.
The recommendation, presented by ANSI President and CEO Dr. Mark W. Hurwitz, on behalf of ANSI's Homeland Security Standards Panel at a reception in Falls Church, VA, will be considered by the commission as it readies its final report to the President and Congress, expected sometime this summer.
