Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
As the Atlantic hurricane season looms, businesses must take proactive measures to protect their facilities from the potentially devastating impact of severe storms. With experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting a range of 12 to 17 named storms in 2023—with five to nine of them being hurricanes, including one to four Category […]
June marks the official start of hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30. But how many of these potentially dangerous storms should we expect (and prepare for) this year? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its 2023 Atlanta Hurricane Season outlook, which forecasts a “near-normal” season. Specifically, the agency predicts a 40% chance of […]
Federal agencies are commemorating National Hurricane Preparedness Week April 30-May 6, 2023, in a national campaign to help everyone get ready before hurricane season begins on June 1. Although Facilities Management Advisor has offered many resources over the years about how to prepare your facilities for these dangerous storms, what should you do about your […]
Risk mitigation is the process of planning and developing options to reduce threats or risks to people. Resilience is the ability to learn, respond, reflect, and recover from emergencies. While risk mitigation activities are preventative, and resilience activities are reactive, both place serious responsibility on the shoulders of facilities management teams. What’s important in resilience […]
All school employees in Pennsylvania will receive three hours of safety and security training every year, at no charge to their schools, through a new program grant approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “Every kid deserves to be safe and feel safe, whether they’re in the classroom, on the playing field, waiting […]
This spring may bring about damaging weather events, including heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. With such threats looming, insurance firm QBE North America has shared best practices to help U.S. business owners and facilities managers stay prepared and protected. “As we shake off winter, now is the time to identify potential risks, address […]
City officials have announced completion of a $2.4 million project to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems atop six New York City Fire Department (FDNY) firehouses in Queens and Brooklyn. In addition to generating emissions-free energy, these systems will use battery storage to ensure that the firehouses remain operational during blackouts, brownouts, or storms if electric […]
As we start 2023, facility managers will continue to face the challenge of improving sustainability and resilience. Whether the driver is climate change, government regulation, civil unrest, or an uncertain economy, facility leaders will need to find new and innovative approaches to reduce energy consumption, improve building perimeter security, and create beautiful spaces. But if […]
As climate change progresses, we can expect storms to become more frequent and more intense. Already, coastal communities are experiencing the devastating effects of severe hurricanes and tropical storms, while midwestern communities are encountering massive destruction from tornadoes and hail. As storms only continue to worsen, ensuring our facilities are designed and built to withstand catastrophic […]
Here’s the good news regarding workers’ return to office (RTO) after the pandemic: It’s happening, slowly but surely. Here’s the bad news: Things may never be as before the pandemic. Security company Kastle Systems recently surveyed 10 major U.S. cities and reported that, as of September 2022, about 50% of all workers have returned to […]