The CRA is a not‐for‐profit organization, dedicated to facilitating and linking community‐based public‐private partnerships throughout the state to strengthen California’s resilience. The CRA, formerly known as the BENS Bay Area partnership, has strengthened state and local capacity to prevent, protect, respond and recover from disasters through effective public-private collaboration since 2005.

Business and government need such a partnership to better prepare for natural disasters, pandemic flu or terrorism. In previous disasters, business-government collaboration has been chaotic – with little or no advanced planning or practice. The CRA mobilizes California's businesses in advance to improve community resiliency:
• Coordinated Public-Private Response: Businesses link to state and local government emergency operations centers (EOCs) and information “fusion centers” to improve communication and coordination during disasters;
• Health Emergencies: Companies assist state and local public health departments in distributing vaccines and medical supplies in a pandemic or biological attack;
• Surge Capacity/Supply Chain Management: Businesses pledge resources (facilities, equipment, transportation) through a web-based registry that can be quickly tapped by first responders;
• Expertise and Technology: Businesses offer best practices and civic leadership to help government improve prevention, response and recovery.

CRA summary Jan10.pdf
BENS post-Katrina report: Getting Down To Business.pdf