As the busy 2008 hurricane season draws to a close, the Chamber's Business Civic Leadership Council (BCLC) reflects on its work to provide critical assistance and aid for short and long-term recovery efforts following natural disasters. Below is a glance at some of its accomplishments and available resources. 

National Disaster Help Desk for Businesses: Made possible through the generous support of the Office Depot Foundation, the Help Desk address questions and challenges surrounding business disaster response coordination and long-term recovery.

Aid Tracker: BCLC is the keeper of record for corporate aid contributions to disaster relief efforts, and this year was no different. For Hurricane Ike alone, BCLC determined that the U.S. business community mobilized more than $23.1 million in cash and in-kind contributions.

Resource Guide: To help interested business donors quickly and effectively respond to disasters, BCLC offers tips for business assistance, including how to be involved in long-term recovery.

Research: BCLC this year established a partnership with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) to perform long-term economic impact studies following presidentially declared disasters. 

Information Sharing and Coordination: Following disasters, BCLC provided regular briefings and updates via conference calls and its Web site to communicate with government agencies, volunteer organizations, and businesses and chambers both offering and receiving assistance.

Small Business Emergency Funds: In 2008, BCLC established a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Small Business Administration to help expedite the processing of small business loans after disasters.

Texas Responds: BCLC supported Texas' first volunteer and bulk-donation management portal, Texas Responds. This tool helps the state identify and coordinate community resources to more effectively prepare and respond to disaster.

BCLC is collecting information about business-led efforts to minimize damage in communities and help people in need.  Tell your company's story by emailing Kitty Taylor at ctaylor@uschamber.com.