Disaster Strikes. Are You Ready?
September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign sponsored by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. This year, FEMA is devoting each week of September to a different preparedness scenario. To supplement FEMA's efforts, each week BOMA International will be posting resources on its Security and Emergency Preparedness website specifically geared towards the commercial real estate industry on each of the topics:
There are also two events to highlight on your calendar:
First is a FREE webinar hosted by AlliedBarton on Wednesday, September 16, called “Disaster Strikes. Are You Ready?”, which outlines planning exercises that will positively impact your organization’s preparedness. See below for more details on how to sign up.
- Week 1, September 1-5: Floods
- Week 2, September 6-12: Wildfire
- Week 3, September 13-19: Hurricane
- Week 4, September 20-26: Power Outage
- Week 5, September 27-30: Lead-up to National PrepareAthon! Day (September 30)
There are also two events to highlight on your calendar:
First is a FREE webinar hosted by AlliedBarton on Wednesday, September 16, called “Disaster Strikes. Are You Ready?”, which outlines planning exercises that will positively impact your organization’s preparedness. See below for more details on how to sign up.
Webinar: Disaster Strikes. Are You Ready?
Business preparedness is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, exercising and evaluation to ensure effective prevention, response and recovery from natural or man-made disasters.
Bringing emergency response plans to life is essential to your overall business preparedness plan. It helps to ensure employees, tenants, vendors, visitors and first responders know their roles and responsibilities when an emergency occurs. Consider:
- Tabletop exercises allow personnel to validate plans and help identify weak points in a response plan.
- Drills provide the opportunity for everyone to become familiar in performing their duties in a simulated emergency.
- Full-scale exercises which take place at your location using the equipment and personnel that would be called upon in a real event.
Register for AlliedBarton’s webinar, “Disaster Strikes. Are You Ready?” on Wednesday, September 16, at 1:15 p.m., EST, to learn about emergency planning exercises that will positively impact your organization’s preparedness. The webinar will be presented by Deb Pyznarski, Senior General Manager, Lincoln Property Company and Chair, BOMA International Preparedness Committee; Alan Stein, VP, Marketing Services & Product Development, AlliedBarton Security Services and Vice Chair, BOMA International Preparedness Committee; and Rob French, Principal, AK Preparedness.
Two weeks later, On Wednesday, September 30th, businesses around the country will take part in National PrepareAthon! Day. This grassroots awareness day, coordinated by FEMA, features a variety of hands-on table top exercises that allow organizations to practice what to do and how to stay safe during an emergency. We encourage your organizations to participate in one of the campaign’s featured exercises. To register or for more information, visit http://community.fema.gov/about.
Finally, in honor of National Preparedness Month, BOMA International is offering a 20 percent discount on Emergency Preparedness Guidebook: The Property Professional’s Resource for Developing Emergency Plans for Natural and Human-Based Threats throughout the month of September. The guidebook helps property professionals prepare for and respond to a broad range of potential threats. It walks the reader step-by-step through the four phases of emergency management—mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery—to help ensure tenant safety and building security during emergency situations. There is also an in-depth chapter on building an effective communications plan and checklists throughout to help users organize every step of their preparedness plan. The guidebook is a must-have tool for all preparedness professionals.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Steve Orlowski sorlowski@boma.org or Dylan Isenberg disenberg@boma.org.
Back to September articles
Finally, in honor of National Preparedness Month, BOMA International is offering a 20 percent discount on Emergency Preparedness Guidebook: The Property Professional’s Resource for Developing Emergency Plans for Natural and Human-Based Threats throughout the month of September. The guidebook helps property professionals prepare for and respond to a broad range of potential threats. It walks the reader step-by-step through the four phases of emergency management—mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery—to help ensure tenant safety and building security during emergency situations. There is also an in-depth chapter on building an effective communications plan and checklists throughout to help users organize every step of their preparedness plan. The guidebook is a must-have tool for all preparedness professionals.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Steve Orlowski sorlowski@boma.org or Dylan Isenberg disenberg@boma.org.
Back to September articles