Businesses are susceptible to damage and destruction on account of natural and man-made disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, chemical spills and acts of terrorism. Hartigan spells out three kinds of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the context of disasters. The first model of CSR involves "safety at the workplace and harmony with the immediate environment". It means a training programme for the staff of the company on disaster preparedness, "drafting a contingency plan for the workplace" and carrying out "simulation exercises and drills". Model one also addresses the needs of its immediate environment, in particular the needs of the communities in which the company’s workers and their families reside. Disaster preparedness has to be undertaken for this group as well. Model one also includes the company’s response in the event of a disaster such as provision of food and medicines. The second model of CSR involves "synergy and reaching out to a larger community". It implies networking, partnership development and coordinating the private sector responses to work meaningfully with the Government. The third model of CSR involves "safety and security for a larger population". When Hurricane Katrina struck the US, Wal-Mart got into action much before the Federal Emergency Management Agency and began providing every day necessaries to the victims and relief workers, partly at their ‘every day low prices’ and partly free. Wal-Mart donated more than $ 20 million to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The book will prove useful to business houses, NGOs, management students and consultants and Government organizations.
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