Some view winter weather as a welcome excused absence from work or school. Others must still find their way into the office. What they don’t want to encounter on their way are slick sidewalks, power outages, or the worst – inching your way through icy gridlock only to learn after they’ve battled the weather that the office is, in fact closed. “Sorry,” simply won’t suffice. Read More
Last week AlertMedia, in coordination with Continuity Insights, sponsored a webinar on the winter hazards that businesses face and the things businesses should do to prepare and respond. AlertMedia’s VP of Sales, Peter Steinfeld, a 15-year industry veteran, joined Paul Yura, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service. Each contributed their insights and experience to educate a packed audience on how to improve their business readiness for the coming winter. Here’s a recap of some of the highlights: Read More
When a business’ administrators are communicating with their employees during a crisis, it’s important they have all the tools necessary to ensure quick, accurate, and easy transmission of alerts. One of the most powerful tools included in modern mass communication systems is location-based services, which include GPS tracking, map views, and functions like geofencing. Location is a primary factor in determining who is at risk in an emergency. So being able to receive and send that information is critical in a wide variety of events. Read More
While 86 percent of companies have an emergency communications plan in place, a plan is only as good as the technology that supports it.
Unfortunately, many of the systems companies use today to communicate with employees during emergencies are outdated or clunky. And they lack the capabilities needed to meet the needs of the modern workforce. Read More
When a hurricane strikes and everyone else is moving to higher ground, facilities managers are headed the other way—planning when they can return and assess the damage. Once the storm moves offshore or loses steam, they will likely be the first ones back to the office. No matter how well you’ve prepared your business for a hurricane, things will be chaotic. If you’re a facility manager, you need to be taking the correct post-hurricane safety precautions to ensure the property is ready for a safe re-entry so everyone can get back to work. Read More
No one expects to have a fire or other disaster at work, but they happen every day in office buildings across the country. We like to think of our workplaces as predictable outposts full of copiers, Keurig machines, and maybe a few too many meetings. But the truth is that when a fire breaks out, employees’ lives can be on the line. You and your company’s leaders need to be familiar with how to conduct a fire drill at work. By scheduling regular fire drills, your company can plan for a potential fire and prepare employees to exit the building safely. Read More
When a fire threatens your employees and business, chaos and confusion can reign.
Construction fires often move so quickly that workers are forced to do what they can to survive. When an office tower in Sydney, Australia caught fire earlier this year, construction workers on scaffolding had to scramble to safety when the exterior of the building was transformed into a wall of flames. Read More
One of the biggest challenges a business faces during a wildfire is communication. Wildfires can grow from a small brush fire into an inferno that engulfs thousands of acres in only a matter of hours.
As a result, officials must be on their toes and have the right technology, processes, and training in place to ensure that those in harm’s way are given the information they need to protect themselves and their loved ones at a moment’s notice. Read More
Wildfire season is here and businesses have a lot at stake. The far-reaching impact of wildfires on business is astounding, but there are proactive steps a company can take.
In the hot, dry summer months, people have more to worry about than a sunburn. Wildfires can break out at any moment, putting homes and businesses at risk. Whether from a lightning strike, a fallen electrical pole, a cigarette, or a campfire; a single spark can quickly turn into a massive wildfire that can cause irreparable damage. Read More
In a typical year, the U.S. experiences 12 named storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
“Typical,” however, doesn’t describe our last season.
In 2017, there were 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes, and six major hurricanes. The NOAA attributes the irregularity on “the lack of El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific, with La Niña conditions developing near the end of the season.”
Experts don’t expect the 2018 season to fare much better. Read More
