WASHINGTON, D.C. - Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate met today with senior representatives from more than two dozen private sector associations to discuss disaster preparedness, the 2009 Hurricane Season and emergency management.

In this first outreach to the private sector in his new role as FEMA's administrator, Fugate shared his experiences as Florida's Director of Emergency Management and discussed the private sector's role in hurricane preparedness, response and recovery. Participants engaged in a question and answer session, and shared information on their preparedness efforts.

"Today's meeting with our partners in the private sector was another important step in the national emergency response team's efforts to better and better respond to the next disaster," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "Businesses, just like families and individuals, need to take responsible, proactive steps to prepare for emergencies. Our private sector partners play a critical role in the immediate response as well the public's awareness and preparedness before a disaster and I look forward to continuing and expanding our partnerships."

Roundtable participants represented a wide variety of partners in emergency management, including the hospitality and logistics sector, critical infrastructure and key resources, large and small business and more. Most of the participants and their members have been working with FEMA's Private Sector Division in recent disasters, sharing information and collaborating on response efforts.

In 2004, Fugate managed the largest federal disaster response in Florida history as four major hurricanes impacted the state in quick succession. The next year, Florida was again impacted by major disasters when three more hurricanes made landfall in the state. The impact from Hurricane Katrina was felt more strongly in the Gulf Coast states to the west but under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, Florida launched the largest mutual aid response in its history in support of those states.

FEMA's Private Sector Division was established in 2007 to help open dialogue between FEMA and the private sector, and encourage collaboration. www.FEMA.gov/privatesector.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters.