Background for 11/19 Public Hearing on

"Private/Public Sector Partnership in Emergency Preparedness"

The purpose of this hearing is to form the basis for recommendations by the Commission on the
topic of Emergency Preparedness in the Private and Public Sectors. Lessons learned from 9-11
point to the critical need for the private sector to be prepared both in terms of evacuation and
continuity of business. Through our interviews with companies which were in the Twin Towers
on 9-11 and in the surrounding blocks, we have discovered that many of these companies had not
practiced evacuation drills, did not have alternative communication systems, did not have back-
up sites that were in a distant location and operable, did not have a way to find their employees,
and did not have workable continuity of business plans. While the evacuation of the towers did
save many lives, it is clear that there are critical lessons to learn from the experience which the 9-
11 families will highlight in the hearing.

Since that time, most companies directly affected by 9-11 have substantially improved their
preparedness, not just for a terrorist attack, but for general emergencies. These plans were tested
during the recent black-out and hurricane. However, while much has been done in the private
sector by those companies drastically affected by 9-11, a recent survey commissioned by
Guardsmark, a security firm, reported that "45 percent of the companies interviewed (over 800)
are NOT conducting emergency drills." In addition, our interviews with many groups point to
wide variances in the emergency and continuity of business planning with a lack of any
standards or directions for companies to follow. Family members believe the issues of
skyscraper safety and corporate responsibility in this area are critical.

DHS has been focusing on the role of the private sector in homeland security. With over 85
percent of the infrastructure of our country owned or operated by the private sector, it is clear
that the private sector must take an important stake in the protection of our homeland. There are
many issues that arise in this context, but the important lesson is that much more needs to be
done to bring together the public and private sector in this area. This hearing will begin with 9-
11, and focus specifically on what has been done since then and what still needs to be done.
While it will not necessarily develop all of the answers, the discussion will bring to light some
areas where the Commission could have a major impact on the future safety of our country,
businesses, and employees.
 AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 19-20,2003
Commissioners have the option of traveling to Madison, NJ on the evening of November 18
or on the morning of November 19.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Draft Agenda for Public Hearing on

"Private/Public Sector Partnership in Emergency Preparedness"
Baldwin Gymnasium * Drew University * Madison, NJ

10:00 AM Hearing Commences

Opening Statement by Chairman Kean

Welcome and Highlights of New Jersey's Public/Private Sector Partnership

Governor James McGreevey

10:15 AM Skyscraper Safety Issues from 9-11 Family Members

Monica Gabrielle, Co-Chair, Skyscraper Safety Campaign

Sally Regenhard, Co-Chair, Skyscraper Safety Campaign

11:00 AM Public/Private Initiatives Since 9-11

Sydney J. Caspersen, Director, New Jersey Office of Counterterrorism, and Member,

New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Taskforce (Invited)
Robert P. Liscouski, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Department of
Homeland Security (Invited)
Dennis J. Reimer, Director, Oklahoma National Memorial Institute for Prevention of
Terrorism (MIPT)

12:30 PM Video Presentations of Sample Initiatives in the United States

Kings County, WA (Public/Private Sector Disaster Preparedness Plan)
Morgan Stanley, Harborside, NJ (Full Building Evacuation)
International Association Assembly Managers (Preparedness Training in the U.S.) (Invited)
12:45 PM Break

1:45 PM Experience on 9-11

Bill Yun, President, Fiduciary Trust

2:30 PM PANEL: Standards for Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity

Glenn Corbett, Professor of Fire Safety, John Jay College of Criminal Justice,
Member, NIST Investigation, and Bergen County Fire Captain
Randall Vim, Director, National Preparedness Team, General Accounting Office

3:30 PM PANEL: Incentives for Private Sector Preparedness

Bill Raisch (Moderator), Greater New York Safety Council

Deborah Pretty, Principal, Oxford Metrica
Peter Orszag, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Alfonso Martinez-Fonts, Jr., Special Assistant to the Secretary - Private Sector, Department of
Homeland Security (Invited)
Insurance Representative (TBD - possible invitee from Senior Management at Chubb)

6:00 PM Commission Dinner at Drew University

Commissioners will travel by sedan to New York City upon the conclusion of dinner.
Accommodations in Manhattan are to be determined.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20

7:45 AM Depart Hotel for Ground Zero

8:00 AM Visit Ground Zero

8:45 AM Depart for Commission Office at 26 Federal Plaza

9:00 AM Discussion with Amb. Richard Holbrooke

10:00 AM Discussion with Amb. Richard Haass

11:00 AM Discussion with Amb. Richard Murphy

12:00 AM Meeting Concludes