Learning the Lessons of Sandy

The industry was well prepared for the Superstorm—but was still hit with major surprises. Millions of gallons of water had to be pumped out of basements immediately, yet there was an equally daunting pumping permit process; critical property staff faced access obstacles; generators were separated by 20 stories from their fuel supply, and now post-storm, major skyscrapers are being run on generators in the street far longer than ever anticipated.

On Jan. 30 BOMA/NY will put Superstorm Sandy in perspective and more importantly, discuss how challenges can be overcome or even prevented the next time such an incident erupts. 

The largest research study conducted by BOMA/NY in years will form the backbone of the seminar, Lessons Learned from Superstorm Sandy, which will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at Club 101 at Park Avenue and 40th Street. Your electronic invitation will be sent to you shortly.

"This seminar is not a re-hash of what happened—it’s an analysis of how our industry responded and continues to respond as we still face severe challenges," said BOMA/NY’s Sylvester Giustino, Director of Legislative Affairs. "The study, as well as the anecdotal evidence/case studies we're receiving from our owner members, will help us be better prepared in the future. We’ll know what to do better the next time, and there will be a next time. It’s not a question of ‘if’, but when."

Sylvester, who manned the BOMA/NY Alert system and supplied constant updates before, during and after the storm, will participate on the panel moderated by disaster preparedness specialist Walter Ulmer III, CBCI, President of Remlu, Inc. Sylvester will focus on how BOMA/NY’s relationships with OEM and other agencies helped cut the red tape surrounding permitting process from days to hours, and what more can be done in this area in the future.

He will be joined by:

John Brandstetter, Managing Director, The Brandstetter Group and BOMA/NY Weather Response Subcommittee Chair, who will focus on the realities during the emergency recovery process: how to cope with lack of power, environmental issues, re-powering buildings and more, with insight as to what could help us all in the future.

John Osborn, Esq., Partner, Osborn Law, will focus on the legal aspects of buildings being out of service, such as the effect on leases where tenants must occupy interim space and cannot take back their original space for months, and more.

The BOMA/NY Preparedness Committee Co-Chairs, Ronald Zeccardi, Director of Operations at The Moinian Group and Louis J. Trimboli, RPA/FMA/LEED AP, Senior Real Estate Manager at CBRE, will focus on additional operational challenges.

Make sure you sign up for the Jan. 30 seminar; it could be the best two hours you invest this year.