The Corporate Emergency Access System (CEAS) is a pre-event credentialing program in the United States, which authenticates critical business employees for access to restricted areas following a disaster or serious emergency using a secure identification card recognized by the police. Municipalities must adopt the CEAS Program for use in their jurisdiction before businesses can enroll in the Program and receive ID cards. The local authorities can implement CEAS following an emergency once immediate threats to life are stabilized. Because identifying and empowering second responders helps make the difference between lingering disruption and the necessary and timely restoration of daily life, many state and local governments are adopting the unique second responder identification protocol known as The Corporate Emergency Access System.
CEAS was developed in New York State during the 1990s by the Business Network of Emergency Resources, a not-for-profit organization which pioneered this emergency-identification-card-based capability.
The CEAS program helps businesses mitigate damage and loss resulting from a disaster or emergency, by allowing businesses rapid access to restricted areas following emergency events.
Participating businesses select a pre-determined number of employees to receive CEAS access ID cards based on total employee population. These critical employees can quickly get back to work, assess damages and ensure their companies' viability, continuity and recovery.
By allowing safe and secure emergency access, CEAS gives businesses the opportunity to put a sound emergency management plan in place. Not only does this ensure the rapid recovery of essential operations, but CEAS also provides businesses with the ability to retrieve assets left behind in an emergency such as securities and other valuables; vital records, hardware and critical equipment; and core IT systems. Access also enables these designated employees to conduct damage assessments, and much more.
The CEAS access system has been adopted by major cities, counties, and smaller municipalities such as:
Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Cambridge, MA, Chester County, PA, Erie County, NY, Nassau County, NY, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Stamford, CT, and Suffolk County, NY.