"Act Now: Be Prepared for the Unexpected!"
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You are invited to attend ECA Spring 2025 Workshop on May 22

You are invited to attend our Spring 2025 Workshop on May 22, being held in-person at the LA Regional Food Bank (City of Industry). The workshop will include these presentations and discussions:

• Overview of the LA Regional Food Bank and its Key Role in Disasters (Michael Flood, President and CEO, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank)
• Overview of the April 14, 2025, M5.2 Julian earthquake and the Elsinore fault (Dr. Alice-Agnes Gabriel, UCSD/Scripps)
• Earthquake Early Warning Aspects of the Julian Earthquake (Dr. Jessie Saunders, Caltech)
• Group activity to learn and practice key safety messaging
• ECA 2025 Activities & Opportunities, Including Highlights of Mini Award Projects (Mark Benthien, ECA Executive Director | Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)
• Optional: Volunteer with the Food Bank (after the workshop)

Attendees will also be invited to share their upcoming activities and new resources.  If you would like to share and need more than 3-4 minutes, please email details of your comments to ecahq@usc.edu so we can add you to the agenda.

Date/Time:  

Thursday, May 22, 9am – 12:15pm PDT

Click Here to Register for this Event

Confirmation of your participation will be sent via email and will include directions and parking information.

Is your organization ready?

May 14, 2025 @ 1000-1130 (10:00-11:30 PM) PDT
Thank you all that were able to attend
BICEPP will be adding the Zoom Recording available to BICEPP Members

LEARN THE SIMPLE YET CRITICAL STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE TODAY TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS OPEN AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE

Attendees will learn:

--What building codes do and do not do.

--Whether or not it is reasonable to expect business-interruption in even a code-compliant facility after an earthquake

--The Number 1 reason companies fail after a disaster

--What FEMA says most of the damage and injuries in future California earthquakes will be due to

--How to conduct a "Hazard Hunt" and prioritize potential operational vulnerabilities

--When to contact a structural engineer for assistance with seismic bracing

--The best building to be in during an earthquake

--The worst place to work during an earthquake

--Things you can do to get earthquake-ready that are free

--The basics of non-structural earthquake damage mitigation

Featuring Special Guest Speaker 
Glen Granholm
Vice-President Earthquake Consulting LLC

Glen is a nationally recognized leader in the field of securing building contents to keep things in place during an earthquake, with a twenty-year career focused on seismic resilience in hospitals, Universities and life science companies.  His current work involves frequent public speaking engagements and trainings, working with the FEMA QuakeSmart program, the Earthquake Country Alliance, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, and the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup.

Recent Events from BICEPP

Nominations Are Being Accepted for BICEPP's 2025 Award's Presentation in November

Both members and friends of BICEPP are encouraged to nominate any person, group or organization who has contributed significantly to the field of emergency preparedness, management, mitigation, response or planning. Nominees should be role models to other emergency professionals (aspiring and veteran) and demonstrate dedication, positive attitude and outstanding job performance. Awardee’s will be recognized at BICEPP’s Annual Award’s Dinner in November. The deadline for submissions is October 3, 2025.

2025 BICEPP Award Nomination Process.pdf

To nominate - download and complete this form - 2025_Fillable_Nomination_Form

BICEPP - Helping Businesses Become Disaster Resilient
Founded under the direction of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in 1983

What: BICEPP is a non-profit professional association of emergency management and business continuity professionals from both the private and public sector.

Mission: Our goal is to provide a forum for information exchange to enhance emergency preparedness and contingency planning within the business community.

Website: On this site, you’ll find BICEPP's scheduled events:

• Links to programs and events of interest to our members and friends
• Articles, links and resources helpful for the business and disaster communities
• Specific disaster related information for the business community.

If you are new to BICEPP, we hope you will consider joining BICEPP to gain access to reduced event fees and resources reserved for BICEPP members only.



     Click to Become a BICEPP Member      

PLEASE NOTE:
BICEPP's logo is considered proprietary. If you would like to use it on your website or on other promotional material, BICEPP must approve the use prior to any use.

Calendar of Events
BICEPP's Board of Director meetings are open to everyone. Most 2024 meetings will be virtual, but 3 or 4 may become in-person events, hosted by one of our generous sponsors.

BICEPP's 2024 Award's Dinner - A Great Night for All.

November 13, 2024 Glendale Elks Lodge

Each year BICEPP recognizes and honors individuals and organizations who have shown outstanding achievements in the field of emergency preparedness, management, response, mitigation, communications and recovery. Join us next November for our 2025 Award Dinner.

2024 BICEPP Awards Invitation

2024 Awards Dinner 2-Minute Video

Congratulations to all the Awardees

Become a BICEPP Member

    
BICEPP Membership Brochure Here     Sign-up for Membership Here

BICEPP SPONSORS

Please send relevant job openings to BICEPP for posting consideration.

Current postings here

BICEPP Program History

BICEPP's 2024 Award's Dinner

November 13, 2024

Glendale Elks Lodge

Each year BICEPP recognizes and honors individuals and organizations who have shown outstanding achievements in the field of emergency preparedness, management, response, mitigation, communications and recovery. Please join us as we gather to celebrate and recognize the 2024 award recipients. The evening includes a 3 course dinner and our famous free raffle to close out the event. 

FEMA Virtual Tabletop Exercise

HAZMAT – Transportation of Gas

Thursday, September 12, 2024 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Program Rationale:

As part of our Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) series, BICEPP will be facilitating a FEMA HazMat scenario, exploring the challenges faced with a fuel vehicle incident. The program focusses on how an organization(s) response can mitigate and the effect this scenario can have on your business or neighborhood. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. This scenario can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. An incident like this can cause a variety of challenges to business locations, even if it doesn’t occur directly on your property, including extended roadway disruptions, fumes, and material flow onto your property.

2024 FEMA Virtual HAZMAT Sep 12 24.pdf

BICEPP Partnership

  
  Los Angeles Convention Center

Thursday September 5th & 6.     Information Here

BICEPP is excited to be a partner supporting the Disasters Expo USA in California on September 5th & 6th at the Los Angeles Convention Center!

Disasters Expo USA is the USA's leading event dedicated to mitigating the consequences of the most costly disasters, emphasizing preparation, response, and recovery tactics. The event's programming is set to open discussions surrounding the positive aspects of rebuilding a community after a disaster, building a foundation of resilience, and forming a culture of readiness.

2024 Membership Bowling Mixer

Awesome time....

Thursday, August 15, 2024 - 6:00 - 7:30pm

Back Alley Bowling - Northridge

Another fun BICEPP mixer.

2024.2 Bowling Mixer Aug 24.pdf

FEMA – Building Collapse

Virtual Tabletop Exercise

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 8 am to Noon (Free)
Well attended - "very productive"

Description:

As part of BICEPP’s Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) series, we will be facilitating a building collapse scenario VTTX, focusing on an organization’s role in responding to the potential consequences of a building collapse to your business and neighborhood. Experienced experts will be discussing simulated scenarios in this informal setting. This scenario can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. 

2024 Building Collapse VTTX Flyer 

BICEPP Networking Event - Great Evening

October 25, 2023 - 5pm - 7pm

Robin Hood British Pub

BICEPP In-Person Mixer
The BICEPP Board of Directors is excited to invite you to join us for an evening of networking and getting to know our Board members, friends and Los Angeles Emergency Management professionals. Plus we introduced our 40th Anniversary challenge coins!

2023 Robin Hood Mixer.pdf

“Staying Open for Business After Disasters”

NOTE: Members can access Chris's presentation in our Membership Only Access Section

October 12, 2023 - Virtual presentation by Chris Wright, BICEPP's President

2023 Staying Open for Business After Disasters Flyer

The effects of disasters on businesses can be quite profound: 
More than one in four businesses will experience a significant crisis each year; of those businesses that experience a disaster and have no emergency plan, 43 percent never reopen; of those that do reopen, only 29 percent are still operating two years later.

Presenter:
Chris Wright, is the current BICEPP President and an experienced emergency and business continuity planner with over 30 years of knowledge helping businesses prepare for, manage, and recover from a variety of business impacting emergencies. 

Fees:
• Free to current BICEPP members  • $20 for non-members 

Ready Your LA Business
August 23, 10:00 - 11:00 am - Via Zoom
November 9, 2023, 10:00 - 11:00 am - Via Zoom

Description - Plan for the Unpredictable:

Ready Your LA Neighborhood program are designed to support Los Angeles citizens and businesses.

A widespread disaster could happen any day. Many businesses will be forced to close permanently. Disasters include earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist and cyber attacks and health pandemics. Planning is the easiest, cheapest, and most effective tool for disaster recovery.  Presenter - Brenda Rodriquez:

Flyer Here   Video From Aug 23, 2023 Session

Red Tagged. Now What?

In person presentation and Q&A by Stacy Gerlich (lunch & learn)
Wednesday, April 19
Download Flyer Here     Register Here

Description:
What would be the impact to your business if you were not able to access your building? A "red-tagged" structure is one that’s been damaged so severely it is too dangerous to inhabit. Structures can be red tagged for a variety of reasons. Learn how Red Tagging might affect your business. Presenter Stacy Gerlich (StacyGerlich@gmail.com) Stacy is an expert in dealing with all types of disasters and understands the challenges of Red Tagging a structure. This event was provided for free and is presented cooperatively by BICEPP and the American Society of Safety Professionals.

Next BICEPP VTTX – Wildfire Urban Interface: 2nd quarter 2023

Flooding - Virtual Tabletop Exercise - Well received & attended

March 23, 2023 10am to Noon

What:
As part of our Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) series, BICEPP will be facilitating a Flooding scenario VTTX. This VTTX will focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of flooding from a winter storm and other secondary hazards such as landslides, sinkholes, etc. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. This scenario can be

2023 BICEPP Mar 23 Flooding VTTX Flyer.pdf

ARKStorm Scenario.pdf

Mixer - Awesome Get-together & Premier

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Sizzle Reel Premier at 6:30

Ireland’s 32 Pub (Appetizers will be provided )

BICEPP In-Person Mixer

The BICEPP Board of Directors is excited to invite you to join them for a networking mixer in honor of BICEPP’s new organization marketing advertisement “Sizzle Reel”. This is a great opportunity to meet the Board members and others in Emergency Preparedness.

2023 BICEPP Invitation March 2, 2023.pdf

2022 BICEPP Annual Awards Dinner Was Awesome (Nov 17)

It was an especially meaningful, wonderful and emotional hosting this year's Awards Dinner after two years of COVID cancellations. And as expected, the Proud Bird Events Center was excellent. A truly fantastic event, made possible through the work of several dedicated BICEPP members, directed by the persistence of 37-year member and officer holder Chris Wright. If you missed this year, please put Nov 2023 on your calendar now.

The 2022 award recipients are as follows:

• President’s Award - USGS ShakeAlert®

• Rising Star - Nathaniel Moore - Safe-T-Proof

• Award of Excellence - Mark Benthien – Earthquake Country Alliance; ALERTWildfire; Glen Granholm – Safe-T-Proof; Mona Bontty – CalOES (retired); and Dr. Rita Burke – USC - Keck School of Medicine

• Award of Recognition -  Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (T-CEP); Quake Cottage; Carol Parks – City of Los Angeles EMD; Jill Barnes – LAUSD; and John Bwarie – Stratiscope

2022 BICEPP Awards Dinner Invite.pdf      Click for more information and a slide show

ShakeAlert®: Building an Earthquake Resilient Business - Sep 22

These world-renowned experts will shed light on the history, insights, access, and important real-world use in business: Introduction to ShakeAlert (Dr. Robert de Groot); Benefits of ShakeAlert to the Business Community (Margaret Vinci); Cedar-Sinai Hospital ShakeAlert Implementation Case Study (Ryan Tuchmayer); and ShakeAlert Earthquake Drill Manual (Dr Gabriel Lotto).

 2022 BICEPP ShakeAlert Panel Discussion Flyer  BICEPP Members can access this webinar via BICEPP's Members Only Access section

Tsunami Hits Ventura (May 12)

Dan Wall, City of Ventura Emergency Manager, will:

1. Discuss the impact a tsunami had to Ventura in Jan 2022 (there have been at least nine since 1812 causing local damage).
2. Present exerts from the “After Action Report” outlining damage and several recommended solutions going forward.
3. Take-aways include: How do you assess the risk of a tsunami? Who will be in charge? How do you assess damage? And solutions going forward

Tsunami Hits Ventura County.pdf

Family Reunification - Earthquake (April 1)

Program:

BICEPP is hosting a Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI). This VTTX will focus on reunifying unaccompanied minors and separated or missing children with their parents or legal guardians in the aftermath of a disaster. 

Handouts available for BICEPP members in the Members Only section of the website

 Earthquake  - Free Virtual Tabletop Exercise (Mar 10)

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX will focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of an earthquake, as well as the interdisciplinary and interagency coordination at the Federal, State Regional and local level. This scenario can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by BICEPP.

BICEPP Earthquake Flyer.pdf

Active Threat - Mall Shooting (Jan 13)

According to the FBI, active shooter incidents occur at places of businesses and retail stores – including shopping malls – more than at any other location.

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX will focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of an active shooter scenario, as well as the interdisciplinary and interagency coordination both at the local, state, and Federal level. This scenario can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by BICEPP.

BICEPP Active Threat – Mall Shooting.pdf

Preparing Your Business to Survive the Next Disaster (July 29)

...and even the next one!

Emergencies and disasters are a part of life in Southern California. Our businesses and industries should be prepared. Ines Pearce is an expert in business resiliency and will present the best ways to ensure your business is prepared to survive the next disaster and all disasters to follow.

Preparing For Disasters - Ines Pearce BICEPP.pdf

Active Threat - Vehicle as a Weapon (July 15)

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX will focus on a simulate an attack taking place using a vehicle as the weapon and can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting, and can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures. Lead facilitation for the exercise will be coordinated by EMI, with local facilitation provided by the participating agency.

BICEPP Active Threat - Vehicle VTTX Flyer.pdf

BICEPP's Virtual Mixer (May 19)

 This event was sponsored by BICEPP's Membership Committee  2021Committee May 19 BICEPP Virtual Networking Flyer.pdf

Cyber Security - Virtual Tabletop Exercise (Apr 22)

BICEPP is hosting Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). It is being provided at no charge. This VTTX is designed for organizations interested in raising awareness of cyber risk management, cyber related planning, and other issues related to cyber incident prevention, protection, and response. The scenario will focus on increasingly complex and severe cyber threats, beginning with general information on a potential security risk and culminating with the containment, eradication, and recovery from a cyber-incident.

Download Flyer - 2021 Apr 22 BICEPP Cyber Security VTTX Flyer TK.pdf

Healthcare Emergency Management in the Era of COVID-19 (April 7)

Emergency management in a healthcare environment has its own unique challenges, especially in the time of COVID-19. UCLA Health’s Emergency Management Program uses an “all hazards” approach to ensure effective mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery to disasters and emergencies that affect the hospital environment of care. With this approach, UCLA Health was able to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to progress on other emergency preparedness initiatives and maintaining readiness for other disasters. 

Flyer - 2021 Apr 7 Healthcare Webinar.pdf   Video of Event Here (Member Only Access)

Anticipating the Behavioral Challenges of COVID-19 & Civil Unrest (Dec 9)

This webinar will help professionals working in emergency management, business continuity, security and public safety roles better manage the consequences of the current threat landscape. Steve Crimando of Behavioral Science Applications LLC, will address the unique behavioral elements of COVID-19 and civil unrest, as well as providing approaches to anticipating and responding to the human impacts of these events.

Webinar Flyer Here     WFH SECURITY WHITE PAPER.PDF     BICEPP CHAPTER MEETING.pdf    

ShakeOut - for Staff Working from Home (Oct 21)

Caltech's Margaret Vinci will discuss the challenges of preparing for a disaster duri ng times of COVID-19. Since so many staff are working from home offices, make sure they are included in your disaster plans & ShakeOut Drill. Resources for the ShakeOut Drill for staff working from home will be provided.

Webinar Flyer Here      Video recording is available to BICEPP members  (Member Only Access)

The Birth of CERT (Sep 2)

LAFD Assistant Fire Chief Frank Borden, aka “The Father of CERT”. Frank will talk about the - Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program from the beginnings in Los Angeles to the nationwide FEMA program we know today.

BICEPP The Birth of CERT Flyer.pdf  Video recording is available to BICEPP member  (Member Only Access)

EARTHQUAKES: Why all businesses SHOULD do what California Hospitals MUST Do (Jun 24)

Join BICEPP board member Glen Granholm of Safe-T-Proof, for an informative talk covering recent changes to the California Building Code as well as guidance from OSHPD (The Office of Statewide Healthcare Planning & Development) that clarify the changes. These resources can make it easier for organizations to decide what items in their facility should be secured in advance of an earthquake.

How Social Media Has Devastated Public Relations (Feb 12)

How has social media has changed the relationship a company has with the public during and after a crisis?  Ken Kondo, an expert in dealing with the press and social media, will share his experiences and answer questions on how social media has changed our world.

Devastated Social Media BICEPP Flyer.pdf