How to Become a Critical Service Provider

The following question was submitted through Ask@MauriceARamirez.com

How do we get assurance from state/local emergency preparedness agency that, in the event of a local disaster get placed on a priority list with the utilities companies (power, water, waste management) and critical service providers (cellular, bottled water, critical supplies)?

The only way to receive priority services is to be a recognized as a provider of critical community response or recovery services. In most cases, these providers are already known to emergency management, but any business capable of contributing to their community’s response or recovery should contact their local office of emergency management to become part of the local response plan and to be added to the local response resource list.

Local companies that provide much needed services, even those not usually considered critical service providers, can be designated such by the local office of emergency management. Once a company is determined to be a critical service provider, that company will be asked to provide the office of emergency management a list of resources needed to continue services and that need triaged against other demands for a given resource.