Category: Emergency Preparedness

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 […]

Alabama A&M University Invests in Campus Security Improvements

Alabama A&M University (AAMU) announced it is implementing proactive measures to improve public safety infrastructure on campus. New police body cameras, an upgraded surveillance grid, and other enhancements are in the works. The $600,000 investment in campus security aims to increase safety and accountability for the entire AAMU community. Starting this fall, all AAMU police […]

CISA, Washington Commanders, and First Responders Huddle to Ensure Public Safety at Stadium

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Washington Commanders, FedExField, and state and local first responders recently held a tabletop exercise to test response plans around hypothetical public safety incidents at the NFL team’s home stadium. The four-hour event was the latest in a series of assessments and exercises designed to ensure the safety of events […]

42 Mass. School Districts Receive Grants for Physical Security Upgrades

In Massachusetts, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced that 42 school districts have been awarded nearly $3 million in grant funds to facilitate physical security enhancements and help ensure the safety of students and educators. The administration awarded $2,910,000 in federal grant funds through the Safer Schools and Communities Initiative. The federal funds are managed in Massachusetts by the Office […]

Summer Fire Safety Tips for the Workplace

As facilities managers know, summer brings increased risks of fire hazards that require proactive planning and risk mitigation. With higher use of electrical equipment such as fans and air conditioning, risks of electrical overloads and arson attacks rise. Not to mention that reduced staffing levels can also impact safety practices. The summer is a great […]

Cal/OSHA Cites Mushroom Farms in Workplace Shootings

On June 26, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced citations for two Half Moon Bay farms where seven workers were shot and killed January 23. Cal/OSHA cited California Terra Garden Inc., for 22 violations, including 5 serious and 1 serious, accident-related for failing to have a plan or procedures to immediately notify […]