Dealing With Disasters: Business Steps to Take When a Disaster Strikes
By Neal Coonerty, Owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz
Every disaster brings its own unique destruction. The Gulf Coast devastation that resulted from Hurricane Katrina is Biblical in scope, overwhelming with sorrow, and is our national shame to bear. In the midst of all this death and human suffering, it is hard to think about dealing with the problems created for businesses in a disaster zone. But we do, because healing involves recreating a healthy community that includes such businesses as independent bookstores.
Even before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Congress had set a busy schedule for September, including the confirmation hearings of Judge John Roberts and the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act. It is now not known whether the conference committee on the Patriot Act reauthorization legislation will meet as scheduled during the week of September 19.
In response to previous years' success and booksellers' requests, the American Booksellers Association, working with BookExpo America, has secured an exclusive hotel for ABA member booksellers planning to attend BEA 2006.
ABA member booksellers can now