Laye, John :

John Laye, FBCI, is a specialist in contingency and business continuity planning and a frequent lecturer for the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency's Emergency Manage-ment Institute. He is Director Emeritus of the University of California's Continuing Education in Business and Management Program for managers developing emergency plans. He is also the former president of the California Emergency Services Association.

Praise for AVOIDING DISASTER

"Avoiding Disaster is comprehensive, accurate, and exceptionally useful. It is written for the corporate manager/executive tasked with developing and/or managing the strategic function the author calls 'disaster avoidance.' This book provides the best description I have seen of what should be done, and what skills and knowledge are required to do it. I designed and teach the graduate-level course in Corporate Crisis Management and Business Continuity in the George Washington University's Crisis, Emergency, and Risk Management degree program. I intend to use John Laye's book as a text."

--John R. Harrald, Director, Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management, The George Washington University

"If anyone can teach you how to avoid disaster, it is John Laye. His book, which is aptly titled Avoiding Disaster, is written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand, and yet technically accurate manner. John brings his lifelong hands-on experience to the general corporate environment in the same easygoing way that he teaches a class. The examples and theory are clear and all you have to do is follow the process and you are on your way to minimizing your corporate liability . . . in most cases actually avoiding disaster. I highly recommend this book to business continuity professionals, risk managers, corporate safety and security staff, and executives at every organization that is forward-thinking and needs to survive those crises that are facing our society today."

-- Johnathan Tal, President and CEO, Tal Global Corporation

"John Laye's Avoiding Disaster: How to Keep Your Business Going When Catastrophe Strikes is an important text that will be found in college classrooms and libraries and on the desks of business continuity professionals. Laye grounds his book with solid business principles while also highlighting how disaster planning can be central to a company's survival. He combines firsthand and practical knowledge with key regulations and case studies. Both veterans and people new to the field will find his examples and resources beneficial. Although written primarily for the private sector, people in the public sector of disaster management will find his segments on the media and communication, strategic planning, hazard analysis, and many other topics useful and educational. I know this is a book that will be on my reference bookshelf."

-- David M. Neal, PhD, Professor and Associate Director, Institute for Emergency Preparedness, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama

"Avoiding Disaster is a must-read for everyone who wants to ensure the protection and the continuity of their business."

-- Ian I. Mitroff, Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy, Professor of Journalism, Annenberg School for Communication

"Following September 11, organizations have renewed their interest in building resilience to avoid distress. No one knows what the next catastrophe will be or when it will occur. It is therefore important to take on board the philosophy of 'being prepared.' Business Continuity Management (BCM) is an important management discipline that enables organizations to build effective response mechanisms. John Laye's book provides an excellent grounding in the principles behind BCM and will greatly assist those planning to avoid disasters in the future."

-- John Sharp, Chief Executive, The Business Continuity Institute, www.thebci.org

Submitted by Publisher, October, 2003

The best thing you can do for your business is to be ready for anything
When Disaster Strikes offers business leaders the peace of mind of knowing that their business is ready for any contingency, no matter how extreme. This guide is designed to be used as both a preparatory resource for when times are good, and an emergency reference when times are bad. This book gets managers up-to-speed on what they should be prepared to deal with and offers real solutions for putting those business continuity plans in place. From natural and man-made disasters to catastrophic computer hack attacks, When Disaster Strikes is the ultimate weapon for any manager determined to help the business survive no matter what.