New Cards Streamline Access and Speed Recovery after a Disaster

Business Wire,  June 9, 2008  

Tags: card, Streamline

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NEW YORK -- A new All Area Access Card and Multi Facility Access Card was introduced today for the Corporate Emergency Access System (CEAS) that will reduce costs and improve program manageability for the more than 20,000 New York City holders of CEAS cards. The CEAS card, recognized by the police, authenticates critical private and public-sector employees - known as "second responders" -- for access to restricted areas following a disaster or serious emergency.

The cards, introduced today in New York City, have built-in, state-of the-art technology that allow the cards to be scanned by equipment being deployed and field tested by the New York City Office of Emergency Management, according to CEAS Executive Director Peter Picarillo. The new cards were first made available in the Philadelphia market earlier this year, according to Mr. Picarillo.

A new Multi-Facility CEAS card is specially encoded and allows holders to access all enrolled company facilities with a single card and a new All Area Access Card allows applicants, approved by the New York City Office of Emergency Management, unimpeded access to restricted areas regardless of the emergency's location. The All Area Access Card is important for companies that do not have a business address within the City but are responsible for the area-wide distribution of crucial goods and services and infrastructure restoration.

The Business Network of Emergency Management, Inc. (BNET) will immediately begin accepting applications for both the Multi-facility card and the All Area Access card.

For more information about CEAS, these improvements or to enroll in the CEAS program please visit www.CEAS.com or call 888-353-BNET (2638) x1001

The Corporate Emergency Access system is free to local governments and must be adopted by local municipalities for use in a jurisdiction before businesses can enroll in the program and receive ID cards. Local authorities participating in the program typically implement CEAS following an emergency once immediate threats to life are stabilized. The CEAS program helps businesses mitigate damage and loss resulting from a disaster or emergency, by allowing businesses rapid access to restricted areas following emergency events.

By allowing safe and secure emergency access, CEAS gives businesses the opportunity to put a sound emergency management plan in place. CEAS not only ensures rapid recovery of essential business operations, but also helps provide the important and needed access to organizations responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure, 85 % of which is owned by the private sector. Access also enables designated employees to conduct damage assessments and much more.

The CEAS has been adopted by major cities and smaller municipalities such as: New York City, Philadelphia, PA.; Boston, Mass.; Buffalo, NY, Cambridge, Mass.; and Stamford, Connecticut. The CEAS will be deployed soon in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Long Island, NY and the State of New Jersey.

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