Emergency Planning and Preparedness
AH&LA is the lodging industry's central conduit for information and preparedness resources, offering a nationwide network of experts in loss prevention, disaster preparedness, research, and communications to help members think and act ahead. In addition, AH&LA cooperates closely with government and private entities to:
- coordinate disaster response
- disseminate classified advisories from the Department of Homeland Security
- channel information between hoteliers and relief agencies
- link members to consultation and recovery funds
- serve as the industry's voice to the media on every topic from hurricanes to labor issues.
A commitment to planning today will help support employees, guests, the community, and the local economy. And of course, thorough planning is the key to protecting your property and giving your business a strong chance for survival.
This section offers resources and advice for preparing an actionable strategy, both before and after a crisis.
In the aftermath of the April 15 Boston bombings, the Department of Homeland Security disseminated a wide range of resources designed to help private sector businesses, including hoteliers and lodging professionals, train themselves in methods of ensuring a safe environment for staff and guests, and to identify the warning signs for potential terrorist activity.
Links to the DHS downloadable materials, along with other AH&LA resources:
Bag Search Guide
Bomb Threat Stand-off Card
Commercial Facility Risk Self-Assessment Tool
Hazardous Chemicals Poster
Peroxide Advisory
Private Sector Advisory Cards
Suspicious Behavior Poster
AH&LA Guest Safety Tips
Members Only Emergency Resources
Popular links & downloadable materials :
If your property has been affected by a tornado, the following resources may be beneficial:
- The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency's HUD National Housing Locator provides disaster survivors assistance locating and obtaining available properties.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration officers are on the ground in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia to assist disaster survivors with questions and disasters loan applications.
- The IRS is providing tax filing and tax payment relief for individuals and businesses covering the period of April 15, 2011 to June 30, 2011.
- The Red Cross created this Tornado Safety Checklist.
- Visit FEMA's disaster assistance Website
To donate much-needed cash to the affected families, you can text "Red Cross" to 90999 or text GIVE to 80888 (Salvation Army) to donate $10, or give to the fund of your choice at American Red Cross.
For other recognized disaster relief organizations, the National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (NVOAD) Website has a list of major non-profits that are active in disaster work.
Tips for You and Your Employees
- Have a plan for evacuation and safety, as well as an emergency supply kit with a radio.
- Subscribe to local emergency alerts via text messages on your mobile phone from your state or local governments where available.
- Plan to send alerts (voicemail/text) to employees by mobile phone in emergencies.
- Coordinate with state and local emergency management officials, from planning to response and recovery. Find your state emergency manager here.
FEMA has trained full-time staff and reservists on standby, ready to deploy to impacted communities to work directly with private sector employers, and you can take the following action:
- Contact FEMA regional offices
- Post the FEMA hurricane preparedness widget on internal and external Websites
- Access the FEMA Hurricane Preparedness Webpage
Lessons From Past Hurricanes – see what hoteliers would have done differently and learn how you can be prepared.
Find storm information and weather alerts at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service.
You can find additional information on preparedness from Ready.gov and Ready Business.
Check out an interactive mapping tool that shows flood history across the nation, down to the county level, with data regarding past floods and their causes. Based on information from NOAA/National Weather Service, floods can and do affect nearly every place in the United States. For more details click here, and click here to view a risk map update schedule that shows, by zip, when your flood map was last updates and or when it will become effective.
AH&LA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have joined forces on an initiative to encourage and educate lodging employees to recognize, report, and react to suspicious and crisis situations that occur on property.
Posters are available for the customized version of the DHS “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, which encourage employees to report suspicious activity to the proper lodging and law enforcement authorities. EI also offers Eye on Awareness a best practices security and terrorism awareness online training program. The program focuses on the “awareness level” and provides hotel employees with a premier set of skill and knowledge components, including, but not limited to, housekeeping, maintenance, front desk, guest services, food and beverage, transportation, and parking departments.training module.
The AH&LA Loss Prevention Committee teamed with DHS to create a guide, video, and threat assessment document specifically to help hoteliers plan and manage security at their facilities.
The Certified Lodging Security Director (CLSD) review materials and exam include new information from DHS on terrorism threats and hazards and protective measures for lodging; USA PATRIOT Act information; information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on standards important to security directors; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information; and Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance standards affecting security.
Review and share with your staff the Department of Homeland Security's reference materials on dealing with an active shooter on premises: DHS Active Shooter Response Booklet, DHS Active Shooter Pocket Guide, and DHS Active Shooter Poster.
View this free Webinar, Protecting People & Property: Safeguarding Hotels from the Threat of Terrorism, hosted by DHS, available in the Webinar Archive section of the members only site.
DHS urges everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to federal, state, or local law enforcement. Among the recommendations:
- Meet with your emergency response team to review existing plans and ensure everyone understands their respective roles.
- Maintain or establish a strong two-way relationship with state and local officials that will enable frank discussion and trusted two-way sharing of information and feedback.
- If you do not have an HSIN account contact CFSTeam@hq.dhs.gov to start the process.
- Visit www.dhs.gov/cfsector for information on your current security posture.
- If you have overseas properties, consider establishing a relationship with OSAC.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Red Cross
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Center of Disease Control and Prevention