by Brianna Crandall — November 26, 2012—A new publication from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) addresses the universal concern of all sectors of the professional real estate community to protect buildings and occupants in all types of emergency situations. Before and After Disaster Strikes: Developing an Emergency Procedures Manual, Fourth Edition, is a comprehensive, authoritative “how-to” guide focused on helping real estate professionals create emergency procedures plans and manuals for all types of properties.
Designed with an all-hazards approach in mind, the publication examines the numerous considerations involved in preparing for, reacting to, and recovering from disasters, whether natural or manmade. It lays out the key components that should be part of each and every response plan and manual, and addresses managing both the physical and financial aspects of property damage.
Individual chapters:
- Compare and contrast the hazards posed to residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use and medical office properties and provide emergency planning guidance by property type;
- Offer specifics on how to deal with everything from power outages and fires to hazardous materials spills and medical emergencies to hurricanes and tornadoes and other kinds of natural disasters;
- Explore threats posed by manmade disasters such as crime and terrorism and discuss ways to deal with acts of violence and emergencies that erupt with little or no warning; and
- Examine business continuity strategies including how to identify which business processes are absolutely vital and which systems should remain online during a disruption caused by an emergency or a disaster.
A set of emergency planning forms assembled by IREM (an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors) and its industry partners accompanies the new publication. Accessible online, the forms help establish a baseline of preparedness for any property, and can be customized or adapted for specific applications. The publication is available priced at $39.95 for IREM members and $49.95 for non-members, plus shipping and applicable state sales tax, from IREM Publications.
