***MEDIA ALERT*** Hurricane Earl is Approaching, Are Businesses Prepared?

JOHNSON, R.I., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- FM Global Experts Available to Address:

• Preparing for a hurricane – practical tips and guidance
• What can be done now to protect against damage from Hurricane Earl
• The role human behavior places on natural disaster preparedness

As Hurricane Earl approaches the East Coast, the question for communities along the eastern seaboard is not how much damage could consumers, business owners and the local economy experience, but how can the damage be prevented?

Even with proven data arguing a significant threat of risk, some people and organizations shrug off the possibility of a disaster affecting them.  A new report from FM Global, Flirting with Natural Disasters (www.fmglobal.com/disaster), addresses these human tendencies and presents multiple ways for breaking through the barriers of human nature to take necessary action.

Businesses with facilities and suppliers in windstorm prone locations should not be complacent and should understand their level of risk, according to FM Global, which has found that when it comes to hurricanes, a few relatively inexpensive, simple  preventive measures can potentially avert millions of dollars in business property damage.  In today's economy, a business's survival may depend on it.

A variety of experts at FM Global—from senior executives to natural disaster research scientists —are available for commentary, tips and guidance on preparing for a hurricane, and can answer questions such as:

• What are the essential steps businesses should take now to prepare for a hurricane?
• In a hurricane, should businesses be more concerned about wind or water?
• How do successful businesses maintain competitiveness in the wake of a hurricane?

Among the experts:

Bill Lonchar, vice president, operations – FM Global's hurricane preparedness expert, with more than 30 years experience at FM Global helping clients in manufacturing, power generation, and non-manufacturing industries mitigate risks.

Dr. Lou Gritzo, vice president and natural hazards research scientist – oversees FM Global's team of world-renowned scientists in the company's state-of-the art research center.  Gritzo is well versed on the business impact of natural disasters on corporations and consumers, and how to prepare in the event of one striking.

Gerry Alonso, senior vice president, claims – can speak to the importance of preparation and ongoing preventive measures before, during and after a disaster strikes; he also can speak in detail about the work of FM Global's catastrophe response team and how their work with clients begins well before a storm passes through.

Jeff Beauman, vice president, all risk underwriting and reinsurance – can provide practical tips on identifying risks and preparing property to minimize damage from natural disasters – or preventing it altogether.

Jeff Burchill, senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer – offers perspective and insight on financial implications of natural disaster risk for businesses

About FM Global

Commemorating its 175th anniversary in October 2010, FM Global (www.fmglobal.com) ranks 545 among FORTUNE magazine's largest companies in America. More than one out of every three Fortune 1000 companies and similar-sized organizations operating in more than 130 countries work with FM Global to develop robust property insurance and engineering solutions to protect business operations from property risk. The company has been named "Best Property Insurer in the World" by Euromoney magazine and "Best Global Property Insurer" by Global Finance magazine. The company is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best and AA (Very Strong) by Fitch Ratings.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Jeffrey A. Burchill

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=83693  

Louis Gritzo, Ph.D.

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=83696

SOURCE FM Global