FEMA has invested a great deal of time and money into public awareness and the education of business owners to the merits of pre-planning for emergencies. Based on years of observation, FEMA is attempting to create a culture of disaster awareness and facilitate emergency planning for community leaders, business owners and families. Small businesses account for the vast majority of businesses in this country and local economies depend on their success. By identifying the considerations that need to be addressed to keep a business operating through the toughest times, FEMA enables business owners to reduce their risk of going out of business which is often a by-product of long term business interruption.