Website developed by public-private
partnership of Texas organizations
to serve as essential guide through disasters
HOUSTON, June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BeforeDuringAfter, a
multi-functional website designed to help Texas small businesses prepare for, respond
to, and ultimately recover from natural disasters and other
unpredictable incidents, is now available statewide at
beforeduringafter.com.
BeforeDuringAfter was created through a public-private
partnership between Texas Mutual Insurance Company, TEXSAR, the
Texas State University Institute for
Government Innovation, OneStar Foundation, and the Federal Reserve
Bank of Dallas, with additional
support from Wells Fargo.
"At TEXSAR, we pride ourselves on preparedness," said
Justin McInnis, president
at Texas Search and Rescue. "This new platform better connects
Texas communities with their local
emergency management officials, trusted disaster focused data
sources and response agencies, ultimately helping small businesses
prepare before a disaster and providing them with necessary
resources to navigate and recover from the unexpected. We're proud
to partner with like-minded organizations to launch a tool that can
make a difference for small businesses and the communities in which
they reside."
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 40%
of small businesses that close in the wake of a disaster never
reopen, and an additional 29% go out of business within two years
of a disaster.
To help small businesses with resources, BeforeDuringAfter
provides a readiness roadmap that outlines essential steps to help
them prepare before a disaster strikes, includes access to crucial
government information and local news updates during a disaster,
and features a recovery timeline that includes steps businesses can
take to help them bounce back after a disaster.
For more information on BeforeDuringAfter and to learn how to
prepare your small business before disaster, visit
beforeduringafter.com.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES FOR ATTRIBUTION
Rebecca Davio, Director,
Texas State University Institute for
Government Innovation
"In Texas, disasters start and end locally. Creating
BeforeDuringAfter took more than two years, and we are proud that
the platform is finally available to aid in the resilience of
Texas communities when facing
disasters."
Jeremiah Bentley, VP of
Marketing and Community Affairs, Texas Mutual Insurance
Company
"At Texas Mutual, part of our commitment to build a stronger,
safer Texas means doing our part
to help businesses and communities become more prepared, and
recover quicker in the event of a disaster. BeforeDuringAfter is
just one way we're invested in creating strong, safe and resilient
communities across the state."
Chris Bugbee, President and
CEO, OneStar Foundation
"OneStar Foundation believes we are stronger when we come
together, and we are proud to be a part of the coalition supporting
the development of BeforeDuringAfter. This platform represents a
significant step forward in ensuring small businesses, nonprofits,
and the communities we serve are better equipped to prepare for,
respond to, and recover from disasters."
Christopher Rios, Senior
Community Impact & Sustainability Specialist, Wells
Fargo
"Small businesses are the backbone of our Texas communities. Wells Fargo works
collaboratively with community partners to support small businesses
during many financial challenges—including natural disasters. We
know firsthand that better preparedness leads to faster recovery,
and we are proud to be part of this coalition to launch
BeforeDuringAfter in Texas."
About BeforeDuringAfter
BeforeDuringAfter was
developed as a resource to help Texas small businesses prepare for, respond
to, and recover from natural and other unpredictable incidents. The
website is made possible by a coalition of partners, including
Texas Mutual Insurance Company, TEXSAR, the Texas State University Institute for Government
Innovation, OneStar Foundation, and the Federal Reserve Bank of
Dallas, with additional support
from Wells Fargo. Explore more at beforeduringafter.com.
Media Contact: ECPR Texas
TXM@ECPRTexas.com
(512) 472-9599
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SOURCE Texas Mutual Insurance Company