Newmark's Celestino offers advice for emergency preparedness.

Recently, we have been inundated with suggestions on how to prepare our homes for potential emergencies, whether a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The news has displayed images of people buying bulk quantities of bottled water and duct tape to keep in their homes, "just in case." I hope that most of us have now prepared our homes for unforeseen dangers, and while that should be everyone's primary concern, what about the workplace? What if you are at work and cannot get home during an emergency?

It is accepted wisdom that people who prepare for an emergency are most likely to be calm, follow instructions and emerge unscathed if one does occur. Therefore, it is important to make factual, concrete information available through flyers, memos, white papers or on the Internet. Accordingly, Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc., after researching the publicly available resources and finding a dearth of guidance in this area, decided to develop its own set of suggestions.

This information is also available on Newmark's property management web site, www.newmarkpm.net.

Although terrorism weighs heavily on everyone's mind lately, there are many hazards that can affect the workplace and cause an emergency. These threats include fires, earthquakes, burst water pipes, severe snowstorms, electrical outages, explosions, bomb threats, medical emergencies, etc.

Nonetheless, one of the primary concerns, for both operations staff and those employed in the buildings that we manage, is that radiological, biological or chemical agents could be introduced into a building's HVAC system. Although there are a few HVAC protection devices available, none of them can protect a building from all contaminants, and retrofitting an existing HVAC system could be cost prohibitive (if possible at all) and seriously compromise airflow and other system operating parameters.

More importantly, reliable and practical "real-time" detection technology is simply not available. In short, no amount of duct-tape is going to protect us if we cannot efficiently detect when we are being exposed. The most effective way we currently have to protect ourselves is to thoroughly prepare for an emergency response to any kind of hazard.

The general guideline is to be prepared not to return home for three days following an emergency at work. The following are some suggested items to keep in your desk or workspace in case you need to evacuate quickly, or need to shelter-in-place at your office. Put these items in an easy to carry bag:

* Bottled water

* Roll of toilet paper

* 3-day supply of prescription medications

* Long sleeve shirt for warmth, bandage or to cover your mount to filter air

* Flashlight and extra batteries (replace periodically)

* Sanitary products (for women and for first aid)

* Hand sanitizer 

* Pair of disposable rubber gloves 

* Granola bars, dried fruit, bag of nuts or any other food that will not spoil and for which no preparation or utensils is necessary

* A crossword puzzle book; this can double as a notepad upon which to write instructions from authorities

* A pen and a sharpened pencil

* Identification, even if it is just a picture with your name and contact information on the back

* List of contact phone numbers

* A few quarters for use in a payphone 

* Disposable camera

In addition to having these items, there are other steps people can take to prepare themselves:

* Know where your two closest non-elevator exits are located. Practice getting to these exits with your eyes closed, simulating a power outage or heavy smoke.

* Find out where your office first aid kit is kept.

* Know where the fire extinguishers are located.

* Confirm that someone in your office has your contact information.

* Do not store your only copy of important documents, such as your will and financial papers, in your office.

If a situation arises where you are asked not to leave your workplace because of an airborne contaminant, it is best to have made these additional preparations in advance:

* Choose a room with the fewest windows and doors in which to shelter.

* Have material to seal any doors and windows.

* Make sure the room is equipped with a radio, TV or reliable Internet connection so you can keep informed.

During an emergency:

* Follow all instructions given to you by the building or the authorities.

* If asked to evacuate or shelter-in-place, take your purse/wallet, coat, communication device and your bag of supplies. That's it.

* If/when you have the opportunity, record a greeting message on all of your voicemails (cell, work, home, etc.) regarding your status. If loved ones cannot reach you, they will be informed by your greeting.

* Use your common sense and intelligence.

It is not necessarily comforting to write, or I'd imagine read, this article. However, that doesn't mean that it is necessary to be paranoid, panicked or stricken with fear. On the contrary, the smartest policy is to be prepared and stay alert.

Newmark has assembled this information from sources available to the general public to assist you in preparing for an emergency. While the information is provided by government and other agencies reasonably believed to provide reliable information, Newmark takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for either the accuracy of the information or the appropriateness of its use by any particular individual or entity. Persons with certain disabilities may need to speak with their managers and make alternative arrangements more appropriate to their specific restrictions or concerns.