Debriefing Sandy: What Worked, What Didn't

Superstorm—the "big one" that deteriorated to a "superstorm" when it hit our shores but still wreaked $50 billion-plus in damages and took more than 100 American lives. How did your building teams and service providers prepare, respond and recover? What worked, what didn't and what can we, as the ones who own, manage and safeguard New York’s office buildings, do better in the future?

Look for an electronic survey being sent to you at the end of November asking for specifics and anecdotal information on how you met the challenges of Sandy. The survey will take no more than 5 to 10 minutes and provide the vital information we need to compile a report to help the high-rise community improve future responses and avoid error. The final report is currently targeted for completion by Jan. 15.

BOMA/NY’s superstorm Sandy information initiative is the most wide-scale communications outreach project undertaken since 9/11 and its implications, value and repercussions are as far-reaching. It is essential, then, that as many members as possible participate, and we look forward to leading our industry with a superior response and report.

The newly-formed superstorm Sandy-Lessons Learned Task Force of our BOMA/NY Preparedness Committee is spearheading all information gathering, analysis and report production. Work began the morning of Friday, Nov. 16 when the Task Force was officially launched and the questionnaire is now being generated. Examples of questions are: 

•How many of the following agencies did you coordinate with directly? OEM, FDNY, NYPD, DOB, etc...

•What situation(s), if any, did you experience for which you had not prepared? How did you overcome them?

•What percentage of your staff could not make it to work during the first two days following the storm? The first five days? The first week?

The Task Force will also be consulting with sister associations and local agencies as necessary during the study and analysis period.