How 9/11 Changed Property Management
Written by Lynzie Goehring on September 11, 2014.
I think it’s safe to say emergency preparedness can be divided into two separate fields: Pre-September 11th and Post-September 11th. In the pre- 9/11 times; emergency procedures were mostly based around natural disaster preparedness such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. However, the events that took place on 9/11 significantly changed the way our country prepares and trains for emergency situations.
As Commercial Property Manager Mr. Eric Beser stated, “The paradigm shift in our culture of emergency management now called for a unified response, which in turn required an academic approach to the profession of disaster management”.
Events of that day in history redefined the industry of emergency preparedness; affecting property managers and building owners across the globe. There are now jobs created specifically for emergency management and preparedness plans; education degrees developed around this field, certifications, standards, and associations that have and are currently in the process of developing strategic response guidelines. The men and women preparing emergency procedures and response plans must be familiar with the property management industry and understand the value of the assets they are working to protect. Since the events of September 11th there have been more than 150 colleges and universities to begin offering degrees in emergency management and homelands security. Ten years prior to the attack of 9/11 there was only one BA Program for emergency preparedness management in the entire nation!
I believe it’s the duty of everyone in the commercial real estate industry to be aware of appropriate responses to emergency situations. Tenants should know how to protect their businesses and employees should the unthinkable happen; property managers should help raise awareness for tenants to prepare for escape plans, disaster response recommendations, and procedures. Vendors working in commercial buildings must be maintaining the building properly; keeping the safety of the building residents in mind should a disaster ever occur inside. Visitors and patrons of commercial shopping centers need to be familiar with how to react and maintain a calm attitude in emergency situations; and property owners must take action to ensure their managers have a plan in place for their buildings.
Anyone related to the commercial management industry has a role to play when disaster strikes; especially Commercial Property Managers. It is our hope that we will never have to test our knowledge of disaster preparedness; however we should all be prepared nonetheless.
For more information on how to prepare an emergency plan for your commercial building, visit the National Fire Protection Associations website for Emergency Management at http://www.nfpa.org/
