Our minds are always on preparedness and safeguarding the world’s greatest skyline, but never more so than in September, when the somber memories of 9/11 are recalled to us all. With cruel and senseless acts of terrorism playing out once again on the streets of our great city and those of our neighbors in New Jersey this past Sept. 17,  it brought the need for preparedness, vigilance and readiness back to the fore of the public’s mind.

But if you are a commercial real estate professional, emergency preparedness is always with you. At the buildings we own and manage, we are now and always will be the first line of defense before first responders arrive, protecting a working public of 3 to 4 million. Our city has the strictest preparedness protocols in the nation and many of us take emergency preparedness to an even higher level through the initiative of our companies and building teams.

At BOMA/NY, emergency preparedness lies at the heart of much of what we do; it is a prime mission of our Association. While much of our work in that arena goes on behind the scenes every day, it is important I share with you what BOMA/NY has done in light of the Sept. 17 Chelsea acts, and what we do every day to assist you in accomplishing your preparedness and safety goals.

Immediately after the event, our BOMA/NY staff, led by Preparedness Chair Louis J. Trimboli, RPA/FMA/LEED AP did the following:

• On the night of 9/17, we issued an information alert shortly following FDNY informing us of the Chelsea/23^rd Street bombing

• BOMA/NY staff participated in a comprehensive Department of Homeland security briefing relating to all events of that weekend; we continue to liaise with the DHS, OEM and all first responder groups as appropriate

• Monitored NYPD SHIELD updates for all actionable items relevant to membership

On an on-going basis, BOMA/NY provides these services to you to enhance your state of preparedness readiness:

• Timely, needs-oriented training: BOMA/NY holds multiple preparedness workshops and seminars year-round, most recently on Active Shooter scenarios.

• Additional training resources: Beyond BOMA/NY, we strongly encourage members to work with our strategic partners: DHS, NYPD, FDNY and more to take advantage of their training in such areas as how to search vehicles, active shooter response and how to detect/identify suspects potentially surveying your properties to perpetrate an attack. (Training ranges from free on-line resources to site visits.)

• On-going coordination with OEM: Staff and Preparedness Committee members continue to serve on OEM’s Public/ Private Initiative, which updates us on weather or other emergencies, and helps distribute information such as street closings related to large events. We share all such information when appropriate.

• Preparedness Committee pro-active service: This committee of your peers continues to meet monthly to update members, participate in briefings from key safety and preparedness officials and consultants, and otherwise expand our knowledge base regarding preparing for man made or natural emergencies. This is a private/public effort, and agencies such as NYPD, FDNY, FBI, State Homeland Security, and OEM participate and update the group on issues.

• Regional coordination: We initiated and then formally established a Regional Preparedness Group composed of BOMA locals from the Mid-Atlantic region. Every quarter, or more frequently if necessary, we participate in a phone conference to receive local updates and discuss potentially broader, regional events.

• International/industry-wide information exchange: BOMA/NY sits on the BOMA International Preparedness Committee and is frequently called upon to report activities in our local, so that other locals can benefit from New York expertise. Because of our role, we also receive notices and alerts from REISAC (Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center), providing in-depth background information on national events, national trends regarding weather-related or environmental situations, and more.

I hope that from this brief list, you will understand the extent of our all-encompassing commitment to you, and the incredible industry that has given us our livelihoods. There is no question we will continue to build on that commitment and do all in our power to keep the greatest skyline in the world, the safest.

James R. Kleeman, RPA

President of BOMA/NY