Category: Emergency Preparedness

FEMA Expands Disaster Relief Funding to Include Net-Zero Energy Projects

For the first time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will fund net-zero energy projects through its Public Assistance grant program, which covers the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, fire stations, and other community infrastructure investments post-disaster. FEMA is also funding net-zero energy projects for its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and now offers incentives through its […]

North Carolina Awards $35M in School Safety Grants

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Center for Safer Schools has awarded $35 million in safety grants to 230 school districts and charter schools. The funding will be used for safety equipment, training, and services for students in crisis. Safety equipment covered by this grant includes items such as cameras, vape detectors, radios, and […]

Back to Basics: 4 Types of Sprinklers to Consider for Your Facility

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Whether facilities professionals are renovating an existing facility or doing new construction, installing the right type of sprinklers not only protects your facility from fires but also helps your organization adhere to federal, state, and local […]

Navigating the Permacrisis: How Facilities Managers Can Prepare for the Unexpected in 2024

Risk management for facilities managers has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. What was once centered on physical concerns like injuries, security, and equipment failures now encompasses a broader range of challenges. The evolving landscape demands a more comprehensive and adaptive approach to risk management, encompassing digital, environmental, and public health considerations to mitigate […]

Pennsylvania Offers $155 Million in School Safety and Security Grants

Pennsylvania has opened applications for $155 million in school safety and security grants, including $90 million in new investments for mental health counselors and resources. “As a new father, I understand how much Pennsylvania parents care about keeping their kids safe at school and healthy in body and mind,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, chair of […]

Drones and Disaster Recovery: Streamlining Post-Disaster Renovations

Calamities can happen at any time. They put everything at risk—people, buildings, you name it. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are changing things for the better though. Take the 2015 Nepal earthquake, for instance. UAVs were used for search and rescue, mapping, and strategizing relief efforts. Fast-forward to 2023, the University of Maryland has […]

Security Industry Confidence Remains High Going into 2024

The security industry is forecasting a strong 2024, according to the results from the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) latest Security Market Index. The report is a bimonthly measure of confidence that is based on a survey of industry leaders. The November-December edition of the Index asked how respondents are expecting their businesses to perform in the […]

Majority of Retail Workers Are Concerned About Their Safety this Holiday Season

As the year’s peak shopping season hits its stride, an inaugural Retail Worker Safety Report from Motorola Solutions found that many retail workers and managers perceive safety incidents at their stores are on the rise. The survey’s U.S. respondents reported that petty theft (54%), grab-and-run incidents (35%), and hostile customer interactions (31%) have increased in their stores over […]

CSB Finalizes Reports on Fatal Explosions at Two Facilities

On Dec. 6, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on the deadly explosions and fires at the Didion Milling Inc. dry corn milling facility in Cambria, Wis. The May 2017 explosion fatally injured five employees and seriously injured another 14. The incident destroyed the facility, resulting in over $15 million […]

FMA Shorts: How Can Natural Disasters Impact Facilities Managers and Businesses?

On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Tessa Baran, prepare program associate at SBP, explores why facilities managers must make emergency preparedness a top priority amid worsening natural disasters.   This clip was taken from a webinar titled “Protecting Your Facilities from Natural Disasters.” The full session is available for FREE on-demand here.