 |
An executive at a Joplin, Mo.-based solution provider who helped lead that community's recovery efforts after a devastating tornado in May 2011 has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for her work.
Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano announced Thursday that Jane Cage, chief operating officer at Heartland Technology Solutions, and the citizens of Joplin had been given the 2012 Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience, recognizing their contributions in the aftermath of the tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011.
The tornado killed 161 people, injured approximately 1,000 and destroyed about one-third of the town.
[Related: Disaster Recovery: 10 Steps That Could Save Your Business]
Heartland Technology Solutions was one of several VARs in that area that helped their business customers get back on their feet after the disaster. Cage also served as chairperson of Joplin's Citizens Advisory Recovery Team (CART) that helped the community rebuild.
Cage provided CRN editor Scott Campbell with detailed accounts of the disaster and how it changed life in Joplin. Less than a month after the tornado struck, Cage spoke at UBM's XChange conference in Jacksonville, Fla., recounting her own experiences and making a plea for assistance.
"The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience recognizes outstanding response to a catastrophic incident and leadership in fostering resilient and prepared communities," Secretary Napolitano said in a statement. "Jane Cage and the Joplin community demonstrate this spirit of resilience and strength, serving as models for communities across our nation."
"As Chair of CART in Joplin, Jane Cage demonstrated exceptional leadership in helping the Joplin community recover from the devastating May tornado," the Homeland Security statement said. "After the tornado, the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team was established to provide a forum between citizens and the City Council as the community recovers and rebuilds. Jane Cage created the 'Listening to Joplin' plan, which served as the foundation of the community's recovery efforts. CART used a variety of opportunities to reach members across the community, including those who were personally overwhelmed by their own losses from the storm."
The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience was established earlier this year in memory of Richard Rescorla who led an evacuation of Morgan Stanley's 2,700 employees from the World Trade Center south Tower on Sept. 11, 2001.
PUBLISHED DEC. 28, 2012
