Category: Emergency Preparedness

Amid ‘Unprecedented Destruction,’ NFPA Urges Comprehensive Action on Wildfire Protection

Following the catastrophic Maui wildfires, which are among the deadliest in U.S. history, and with the state of Washington now grappling with its own destructive blazes, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is urging governments, communities, and individual property owners alike to take science-backed steps to prepare for wildfire, reduce risks, and support more robust […]

‘Prepare Now’: Updated Hurricane Forecast Expects More Storms for 2023

After releasing forecasts earlier this May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has increased its predictions for the ongoing 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. The agency has upgraded its expectation from a “near-normal” level of activity to an “above-normal” level, with up to 11 hurricanes predicted this year. Forecasters believe that current ocean and atmospheric conditions, such […]

School Safety Is Top of Mind for Parents and Teachers

As K-12 students prepare to return to the classroom after summer break, a new survey gauges the most pressing safety concerns for parents and teachers. The report shows that 67% of both parties are much more concerned about school safety now than they were five years ago, even though 73% of parents and 80% of […]

Strategies for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

In any business, people focus on components that bring longevity and stability. Organizations may secure their resources and ensure a smooth transition during a disruption by implementing an effective business continuity and disaster recovery strategy. However, it’s hard to plan for every possible scenario, like natural catastrophes, fires, cyberattacks, etc. Unfortunately, many business owners are […]

Maintenance Tips for Your Facility’s Backup Power Generator

As facilities management professionals, you can never be too prepared for power outages or emergencies. Facilities need to maintain operations and prevent potential losses that can result from power outages. When an unexpected storm, wildfire, or other natural disasters happen, facilities depend on uninterrupted backup power. But when a generator sits for too long without […]

Implementing Active Shooter Technology at Your Facility

Unfortunately, as gun violence continues to increase throughout the United States, all types of facilities should strive to know how to deal effectively with active shooter situations. There were 649 mass shootings in 2022 alone and already over 300 this year as of June 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Facilities Management Advisor’s FM […]

FTA Awards Disaster Relief Funding to Transit Agencies Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $102.3 million in funding to 17 transit agencies, cities, and planning councils in eight states and territories to help recover from recent natural disasters. The funding, provided through FTA’s Public Transportation Emergency Relief (ER) Program, will help them repair damaged equipment and facilities and recoup costs for evacuation […]

Congressmen and Parkland Parents Announce Bipartisan School Safety Legislation

On July 27, U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and Don Davis (NC-1) joined parents of the Parkland school shooting victims—Lori Alhadeff, Max Schachter, and Tony Montalto—to introduce new bipartisan school safety legislation to require silent panic alarms in public schools nationwide and invest in school resource […]

Delaware Completes Statewide School Safety Initiatives

State officials recently marked completion of several major safety initiatives under the Delaware Emergency Management Agency’s Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP). Delaware is now among the first states to create high-resolution digital blueprints of all school buildings and grounds for every public and charter school. The new maps will enable law enforcement and first responders […]

Tornado Strikes Major Pfizer Facility in North Carolina

Pfizer Inc. announced the pharmaceutical company’s immediate efforts to provide relief and repair the damage caused to its manufacturing facility in Rocky Mount, N.C., after a violent tornado swept through the town on Wednesday, July 19. According to the National Weather Service, the tornado was an EF-3 with peak winds up to 150 miles per […]