These tornado-safe rooms are typically small, above- or below-ground structures made of concrete, masonry or steel that are proven to withstand extreme winds, even those produced by EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes.

The U.S. averages 1,333 tornadoes per year, with more than half of those occurring between April and June when most universities are still in session. The top five states with the highest number of tornadoes annually include Texas, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Javier Esteban, principal at St. Louis-based KWK Architects, suggests that universities collaborate with their architectural firms to determine a reinforced room design that best accommodates their budgets, structures and student population.

Esteban stated:

Ideally, reinforced rooms should be designed and constructed based on the standards and codes for tornado and hurricane storm shelters developed by the International Code Council (ICC) 500, in partnership with the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA). But that is not always feasible for a variety of reasons.

Many times the restrictions in terms of ventilation, structure, and exit requirements make designing to these codes cost-prohibitive for universities. In those instances, it is still possible to design for student safety via a compromise where some public areas of the residence hall have strengthened or reinforced structures, doors and windows.

KWK Architects has designed reinforced rooms for several universities within the country’s “Tornado Alley” where twisters are more common:

• Headington and Dunham Residential Colleges at the University of Oklahoma (Oklahoma averages 68 tornadoes per year).
• University Commons residential complex at Missouri S&T (Missouri experiences an estimated 45 twisters annually).
• Victor E. Village at Fort Hays State University in Kansas (Kansas reports an average of 96 tornadoes per year).

A reinforced room should be designed to stand up to high winds on its own, independent of the building structure surrounding it, said Esteban.

Esteban continued:

It is critically important to maintain the structure of the reinforced area so that should a building collapse occur, it does not affect the integrity of the reinforced space, and its occupants remain safe.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) has outlined the different types of tornado-safe room options available and the materials used to build them:

1. Cast-in-place concrete — These rooms are assembled on-site using removable forms, rebar and concrete to create the walls and ceilings. The forms can be fitted with liners to create concrete exterior surfaces that look like siding, brick or stone.
2. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) — These rooms are created using foam blocks that contain steel reinforcement, fitted together and filled with concrete. The foam is a permanent part of the room and provides insulation to the building. Interior and exterior finish options include drywall, sheet rock or siding.
3. Concrete masonry — These safe rooms are constructed of individual blocks, set in place with rebar and fully grouted. Two rows of steel at the top of the wall hold the assembly together. There are a variety of texture and finish options available.
4. Precast concrete — This room is formed off-site and delivered to a building for installation. It can be located virtually anywhere in a new building and is anchored using steel angles and bolts. Precast concrete can be finished in a variety of colors and textures using form liners.
5. Prefabricated above-ground steel — These prefabricated safe rooms typically cost less than site-built safe rooms. Considerations must be made to ensure that this room is placed on a safe and sturdy foundation.

Esteban also suggests that reinforced room designs incorporate emergency lighting, electrical outlets, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, heating and air-conditioning, and an AED defibrillator.

When not in use during emergencies, residence hall storm shelters can serve as lounges and study areas for students.

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By Sara Marberry  — Did you know that 8 out of 10 nurses face violence in the healthcare workplace?

Because of this, healthcare workers are more than four times more likely to be hurt by violence in their workplace — more than all other industries combined. And only 20-60% of violent incidents are actually accounted for.

It’s a shame that those who are dedicated to taking care of others face such behavior from patients. their family members, co-workers, and even angry members of the public. Violent behavior includes things like yelling, grabbing, biting, spitting and throwing stuff.

It’s a huge problem — partly because it’s an accepted part of the job.

What is being done about it?

Gun violence also occurs in the healthcare workplace. This past February, a gunman entered the intensive care unit of UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, PA, and took staff members hostage. A police officer died, and several others, including hospital staff, were injured.

Hospital administrators across the U.S. are implementing a variety of strategies to combat workplace violence and enhance safety for staff, patients and visitors, including:

• Increased security presence
• Metal detectors and screening
• Access control and badging
• Violence prevention programs and staff training/preparedness
• Expanding mental and behavioral health resources
• Improving workplace culture and support systems

Designing to reduce violence in the healthcare workplace

The design of the physical environment also plays a critical role in preventing violence against nurses. Thoughtful design can help decrease stress, improve visibility, limit access to weapons, and provide escape routes when necessary.

Here are eight key ways the design of the physical environment of healthcare can help reduce violence:

1. Improved visibility and open sight lines that allow staff toe monitor patient behavior and recognize escalating situations before they become violent.
2. Controlled access and secure entry points to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas.
3. Safe rooms and panic buttons to provide immediate protection for nurses if they need to remove themselves from a dangerous situation.
4. De-escalation spaces and calming environments to help agitated patients regulate emotions, reducing outbursts.
5. Ergonomic and safe nurse workstations to allow staff to quickly respond to potential threats.
6. Weapon-resistant design and safe materials to prevent patients or visitors from using objects in the environment as weapons.
7. Designated crisis response areas for handling patients with a history of aggression.
8. Safety training so that staff members know how to use safety design features effectively.

Where do we go from here?

We live in an increasingly violent, angry society — driven by such things as increased stress and mental health issues, breakdown of community and family structures, exposure to violence in media and society, and political and social polarization.

That’s why the problem of violence in the healthcare workplace isn’t going away. But maybe with careful strategies paired with thoughtful design, it can be reduced. What do you think?

See the original article as well as more insights on Sara Marberry’s Blog.

This column originally ran on Sara Marberry’s Blog on March 21, 2025. Marberry is a healthcare design expert with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and senior living design industry, who has written/edited five books and is a regular contributor to Healthcare Design magazine. Marberry also is a former Executive Vice President of the nonprofit Center for Health Design.

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• IFMA’s Wildfire Crisis Resource Hub includes strategies for improving indoor air quality (IAQ) before, during and after wildfire events; guidance on filtration and ventilation to safeguard indoor spaces; tips for natural disaster preparedness and wildfire impact reduction; and more.
• ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024, Protecting Building Occupants From Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events, outlines best practices for building design, operation and maintenance to reduce the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to wildfire and prescribed burn smoke by safeguarding indoor air quality (IAQ) during these events. Read more on FMLink.
• ASHRAE Journal podcast episode Where There’s Smoke, There’s HVAC explores the impacts of wildfire smoke on buildings, people and public health.
• ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration offers guidance after a fire.  Read more on FMLink.
• UL’s CIRI offers new resources to help residents impacted by California wildfires, including a public information website, toolkit, and guidance document offer practical tips for recovering from the devastation of wildland-urban interface fires
• The January 31st edition of Science Friday covers “The Toxic Aftermath of an Urban Fire“
• NFPA’s Wildfire Division provides resources to residents and safety professionals to help ensure everyone living in communities at risk has the information, knowledge, and tools to prepare and protect their homes from the threat of wildfire.

In addition, look for related education sessions and HVAC technology at such shows as the National Facilities Management and Technology (NFMT) trade show, taking place in Baltimore, Maryland, March 25-27. For sessions recommended by our editors, see these stories on FMLink:

• “March 25-27: More than 100,000 facilities professionals have attended NFMT. Will you join them in Baltimore for training, networking and product discovery?”
• “Fall prevention, fire sprinkler systems and how AI is powering maintenance are among the sessions of interest to healthcare FMs during NFMT, March 25-27, Baltimore”
• “Emergency disaster response, AI now; the next gen of FM, and adapting to climate change are among sessions for the closing day of NFMT 2025, March 25-27, Baltimore”

The post <strong>FMLink Special Report</strong>: IFMA, ASHRAE, IICRC, CIRI, others offer fire and smoke damage prevention and cleanup resources in response to California wildfires appeared first on FMLink.

The hospital features a range of specialties — from robotic surgery and neonatal services to oncology and cardiology care. In partnership with Axis Communications, an industry leader in video surveillance and network devices, and Village Security, a full-service security firm, the state-of-the-art medical facility has integrated innovative technology that monitors every part of the hospital’s nearly 300-bed facility.

The resulting solution provides real-time information that improves emergency response times and helps to save more lives. Laura’s Law was enacted by the State of Massachusetts in 2021 to ensure hospitals make it easier for people to find help in an emergency.

Darrell Boling, market director of facilities and support services at Saint Vincent Hospital, stated:

Saint Vincent Hospital is one of the first hospitals in Massachusetts to fully comply with Laura’s Law, and our partnership with Axis and Village Security enables us to meet the highest standards of safety. Laura’s Law regulates standards for lighting and signage at emergency department access points. It requires 24-hour surveillance with instant playback capabilities including two-way audio-video intercoms connected to a live operator. With better cameras, enhanced signage, and video intercoms, we’re able to react faster to patient and staff emergencies, and in doing so, we save more lives.

To comply with Laura’s Law, Saint Vincent Hospital deployed emergency call boxes embedded with 2N IP Verso security intercoms at all public entrances along with improved lighting and enhanced signage. The law also mandates duress alarms at the main entrances, so the call boxes were integrated with assistive listening technology to improve accessibility for the hearing impaired.

Matt Kjin, segment development manager, Axis Communications, explains:

In addition to employing a new video intercom system, the implementation of Laura’s Law provided Saint Vincent with an opportunity to modernize its security infrastructure by replacing its outdated analog cameras with high-resolution Axis IP cameras. Village Security installed over one hundred Axis dome, panoramic, and multi-directional cameras throughout the premises, all seamlessly integrated and monitored through AXIS Camera Station video management software. Village worked with the local Axis regional sales manager to design the project using AXIS Site Designer, a tool that helps optimize camera placement and factor storage and bandwidth usage.

The new system amplifies safety measures, which is especially important during the holiday season — a time when increased hospital and emergency visits are inevitable. Looking beyond the holiday period, Saint Vincent Hospital will benefit from access of a cutting-edge, scalable system allowing for the easy integration of new solutions to ensure they continue to offer the highest level of standards and compliance for patient, visitor and staff safety.

The new system includes:

• Over 100 Axis dome, panoramic, and multi-directional cameras: These cameras replaced an outdated analog network and provide extensive coverage of the hospital grounds.
• The AXIS License Plate Verifier: Monitors vehicles entering the hospital’s premises. This tool played a key role in solving a recent case where a shooting victim was dropped off at the hospital. By capturing the vehicle’s license plate, security was able to provide critical information to the Worcester Police Department, aiding their investigation.
• AXIS Camera Station (ACS) video management software: Security staff can quickly respond to alerts, view live video footage, and trigger alarm systems, such as the AXIS horn speaker and strobe siren, to draw attention to critical incidents. These tools also assist with non-emergency tasks, such as monitoring psychiatric patients, further improving operational efficiency.
• 2N IP Verso security intercoms and the 2N IP Force video intercoms: These are placed in critical areas such as the employee garage, loading dock, emergency department, and ambulance bay. The intercoms allow immediate communication with hospital security, and the system is designed for full accessibility, including an induction loop system for individuals with hearing impairments.

For more information on Saint Vincent Hospital and its commitment to patient and staff safety, visit the hospital site.

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State-based armed conflict is identified as the most pressing immediate global risk for 2025, with nearly one-quarter of respondents ranking it as the most severe concern for the year ahead.

Misinformation and disinformation remain top short-term risks for the second consecutive year, underlining their persistent threat to societal cohesion and governance by eroding trust and exacerbating divisions within and between nations. Other leading short-term risks include extreme weather events, societal polarization, cyber-espionage and warfare.

Environmental risks dominate the longer-term outlook, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, critical change to Earth systems and natural resources shortages leading the 10-year risk rankings. The fifth environmental risk in the top 10 is pollution, which is also perceived as a leading risk in the short term. Its sixth-place ranking in the short term reflects a growing recognition of the serious health and ecosystem impacts of a wide range of pollutants across air, water and land. Overall, extreme weather events were identified prominently as immediate, short-term and long-term risks.

The long-term landscape is also clouded by technological risks related to misinformation, disinformation and adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Mirek Dušek, managing director, World Economic Forum, stated:

Rising geopolitical tensions and a fracturing of trust are driving the global risk landscape. In this complex and dynamic context, leaders have a choice: to find ways to foster collaboration and resilience, or face compounding vulnerabilities.

Fractured systems, fragile futures

The report, which draws on the views of over 900 global risks experts, policy-makers and industry leaders surveyed in September and October 2024, paints a stark picture of the decade ahead. Respondents are far less optimistic about the outlook for the world over the longer term than the short term. Nearly two-thirds of respondents anticipate a turbulent or stormy global landscape by 2035, driven in particular by intensifying environmental, technological and societal challenges.

Over half of respondents expect some instability within two years, reflecting the widespread fracturing of international cooperation. Long-term projections signal even greater challenges as mechanisms for collaboration are expected to face mounting pressure. Societal risks such as inequality and societal polarization feature prominently in both short- and long-term risk rankings. Rising concerns about illicit economic activity, mounting debt burdens and the concentration of strategic resources highlight vulnerabilities that could destabilize the global economy in the coming years. All these issues risk exacerbating domestic instability and eroding trust in governance, further complicating efforts to address global challenges.

All 33 risks in the ranking increase in severity score over the longer term, reflecting respondents’ concerns about the heightened frequency or intensity of these risks as the next decade unfolds.

Mark Elsner, head of the Global Risks Initiative, World Economic Forum, remarked:

From conflicts to climate change, we are facing interconnected crises that demand coordinated, collective action. Renewed efforts to rebuild trust and foster cooperation are urgently needed. The consequences of inaction could be felt for generations to come.

A decisive decade: Collaboration as the key to stability

As divisions deepen and fragmentation reshapes geopolitical and economic landscapes, the need for effective global cooperation has never been more urgent, asserts the report. Yet, with 64% of experts anticipating a fragmented global order marked by competition among middle and great powers, multilateralism faces significant strain.

However, turning inward is not a viable solution. The decade ahead presents a pivotal moment for leaders to navigate complex, interconnected risks and address the limitations of existing governance structures. To prevent a downward spiral of instability — and instead rebuild trust, enhance resilience, and secure a sustainable and inclusive future for all — nations should prioritize dialogue, strengthen international ties and foster conditions for renewed collaboration, concludes the report.

Read the Global Risks Report 2025 at WEF, and follow the conversations at the WEF Annual Meeting on the event site.

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Standard S700 also describes the practical principles, methods, and processes including equipment, tools, and materials, for the restoration cleaning, and fire odor management of buildings and contents. This standard also addresses contractor qualifications, administrative requirements, procedures, development of the Restoration Work Plan (RWP), documentation of project related events, and compliance with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

The ANSI/IICRC S700: Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration includes the following:

• Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Contractor Qualifications
• Administrative Requirements and Documentation
• Fire and Smoke Damage (FSD) Assessment
• Fire Restoration Equipment, Tools, and Materials (ETM)
• Fire Restoration Mitigation
• Source Removal
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) and Air Conveyance Systems (ACS)
• Fire and Smoke Odor Management
• Fire and Smoke Damage Contents Restoration
• Post Restoration Evaluation
• Limitations, Complexities, Complications, and Conflicts

Bran Lynch, IICRC S700 Consensus Body Chairman, expressed appreciation for other members of the Consensus Body and their hard work, noting the standard was over a decade in the making.

Brandon Burton, IICRC Standards Chairman, said:

Providing a Standard of Care for the professional restoration of structural fire and smoke damage to the restoration community is a massive win for our industry.  This ANSI/IICRC Consensus based Standard will propel the industry into a new phase of transparency, consistency, and quality.  I cannot stress enough how thankful I am to all the volunteers and organizations that have contributed to this critical and important document.  Specifically, thank you to the S700 Chair Bran Lynch and Vice Chair John Pletcher, to the volunteer Consensus Body members, and to the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) leadership for its donation of technical literature and resources.  

To purchase a copy of the new ANSI/IICRC S700: Standard for Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and other standards, visit IICRC.

ANSI/IICRC S590-2023 Standard for Assessing HVAC Systems Following a Water, Fire, or Mold Damage Event

A related standard was first published in 2023: ANSI/IICRC S590-2023: Standard for Assessing HVAC Systems Following a Water, Fire, or Mold Damage Event.

The HVAC assessment process identifies impacted and non-impacted HVAC internal surfaces after a water, fire, or mold damage event. This Standard contains procedures to perform HVAC assessments and create a written report and Restoration Work Plan (RWP) of work for residential, commercial, institutional and healthcare buildings. The document lists methods and procedures to determine visual deposition and odor retention.

The S590 Standard includes the following:

To purchase a copy of ANSI/IICRC S590-2023: Standard for Assessing HVAC Systems Following a Water, Fire, or Mold Damage Event and other standards, visit IICRC. IICRC standards are also available via the IICRC Standards Subscription website at Gilmore Global. For more information on certification programs offered by IICRC, visit the group’s website.

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Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which recently devastated many southern states, including Florida and North Carolina, caused billions of dollars of property damage, leaving many real estate owners, managers and tenants scrambling to recover. Rehabbing properties in some areas will take at least 2 years to complete, and some communities will never be the same.

In an environment where severe storms have become the new normal, CRE stakeholders, especially those in high-risk areas, need to take a proactive approach to portfolio health and resiliency and create contingency plans that will enable them to prepare their portfolios for identified risks and respond after an event to implement post-storm recovery as quickly as possible. However, this is a massive undertaking, especially for those with large, distributed portfolios.

As these dynamics persist, technology has emerged as an essential tool helping landlords and occupiers address climate-related challenges. By leveraging intelligent, data-backed solutions, CRE stakeholders can better manage the health, performance, and risk of their portfolios, even in the most dire of conditions.

Building resiliency through tech

In order to create impactful resilience strategies, CRE owners and occupiers must first gain a complete understanding of potential risk at both the portfolio and individual asset levels. Armed with this information, they can create weather and hazard preparedness plans tailored to each property’s individual needs. Tenants should conduct the same type of analysis, understanding their leases, insurance, landlord and tenant impacts and responsibilities in the event of an extreme weather catastrophe.

One way technology aids this process is by providing stakeholders with a picture of potential damages before a weather or hazard event even hits. Using climate technology that can map the specific locations within a portfolio against various potential climate and hazard risks can help identify sites with the most risk and help to understand the potential business impact. Planning and other preparedness measures can also be taken, such as installing an aqua fence.

Let us consider Dollar Mart, a fictional discount retailer with more than a thousand triple net-leased locations across the eastern half of the United States. The company’s real estate team sits in its Atlanta headquarters and oversees the entire portfolio. None of Dollar Mart’s locations — storefronts ranging from 3,000-5,000 square feet — has an onsite property manager; the Atlanta team oversees the physical well-being of the portfolio and taps into each site’s store manager when necessary. Nearly all maintenance work is handled by third-party vendors.

When a hurricane is brewing, there is no on-site staff at any Dollar Mart properties that is knowledgeable about how to prepare for a storm — instead, Dollar Mart’s central real estate and facilities team must grapple with the hurricane’s potential impact across the portion of their portfolio that is likely to be impacted.

In these increasingly common situations, real estate teams are helped immeasurably by data-driven technology that tracks maintenance, repairs, and environmental data, and can highlight properties within a storm’s path and the likelihood that individual properties will face significant damage. Factors like the age of the building and its equipment, roof, type of landscaping — and open work orders — help dictate which properties have the greatest concern within the path of the storm. Technology that helps pinpoint these properties in a massive portfolio can empower real estate and facilities teams to address these items before the storm and/or book third-party vendors to inspect the most vulnerable locations immediately after the hurricane clears, even potentially through the use of drones if access is restricted.

Bouncing back post-storm

While technology is increasingly proving critical for owners and occupiers who strive to be prepared heading into weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, heat and cold waves, etc., a technology framework is just as important for enabling a quick, efficient response post-storm.

Once the storm has passed, Dollar Mart’s real estate team in Atlanta will want to ascertain the level of damage across their portfolio and make repairs to ensure that stores are reopened for business as quickly as possible. In the days after a storm, tools that track facility status and equipment health from a central platform enable the real estate team to address damage across hundreds of properties in real-time. By automating third-party vendor procurement, technology can also help facilitate faster completion of tasks like generator deployment and water intrusion repair, which are critical to reducing business disruption, testing for mold and other environmental issues, and mitigating the costliest property damage.

After the immediate post-storm emergency work is done, Dollar Mart can also use its detailed property data and damage reporting to apply for insurance aid with greater speed and accuracy. Because technology helps the company document and substantiate losses with precision (covering things like pre-storm asset condition, real-time damage reports, and repair actions taken immediately after the event), it helps them significantly strengthen their claims.

Looking ahead

Sadly, the work does not end here, because in high-risk areas, there is always the threat of another storm, weather event or natural hazard — but therein lies another advantage of using technology in facility management.

One of the most compelling benefits of integrating technology into resilience planning is the intel gained before and after damage is repaired. Taking a close look at how properties held up during extreme weather, Dollar Mart can glean actionable takeaways about vulnerabilities exposed during the storm – such as specific equipment failures, weak points in building structure, or areas prone to flooding. With 1,000+ properties in its portfolio, these insights inform long-term improvements to infrastructure across the region and guide preventative measures for future climate-related events.

By continuously keeping the climate mapping current and identifying flood, extreme weather, natural hazards and climate exposures that threaten a company’s assets, risk is being managed as hazards and climate changes and scenarios change over time. Paying close attention to high hazard core assets is also important. Vulnerability and value-at-risk assessments for core assets should be identified to determine which would cause material financial risk to a business in an extreme event. Supply chain risk should also be considered in the planning and mapping. By keeping the risk and resiliency mapping and monitoring current and learning from each storm with the help of technology, CRE owners and occupiers can refine storm and natural hazard response strategies — enhancing property durability, mitigating financial or supply chain risk to the business, and delivering operational efficiency, ultimately building a more resilient portfolio over time.

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As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, Tampa General Hospital remains open and our teams stand ready to care of our community. Last night, our storm mitigation efforts stood strong against #HurricaneMilton. TGH Brooksville, TGH Spring Hill, and TGH Crystal River are operating as normal, serving our community throughout this challenging time.

The update was posted again 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 13, confirming that Tampa General’s defenses had withstood the ensuing storm surge of some six feet.

So what did the hospital do to prepare for a near-direct hit from Hurricane Milton and for Hurricane Helene, which had devastated the region only two weeks earlier? Emergency preparations included the previous construction of an on-site energy source and water source, and assembling an AquaFence water-impermeable barrier just before each storm to protect against the storm surge.

TGH posted the video below on X during Hurricane Helene to show that the AquaFence barrier was holding:

View more emergency preparation details in the statement that Tampa General released below preceding Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

Tampa General Hospital statement preceding Hurricane Milton

Tampa General Hospital has opened the incident command center and activated its hurricane preparedness plan in advance of Hurricane Milton. The health and safety of patients, team members and community are top priority.

“We have a proactive and comprehensive plan in place to protect our locations against severe weather so we can continue to provide the exceptional care for which our patients turn to Tampa General,” said Erinn Skiba, Assistant Director of Public Safety, Tampa General Hospital. “Our fence around the Davis Islands campus is up, supplies are stocked at all hospital locations, and the teams stand ready to provide care through Hurricane Milton.”

Tampa General leadership and team members engage in emergency management training with government and community partners several times throughout the year to plan for and practice response to various emergencies, such as severe weather events.

As the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, the academic health system stands ready to meet the needs of patients throughout the state who require care after the storm has passed.

Details on preparations at Tampa General Hospital on Davis Islands include:

• On-Site Energy Source – Tampa General completed construction in 2022 on a 16,000-square-foot Central Energy Plant. Located 33 feet above sea level, this energy plant provides a reliable, protected power supply in the event of power disruption. It is built to withstand the impact and flooding of a Category 5 hurricane. The plant houses generators and boilers that can create steam and hot water.
• On-Site Water Source – In the rare event that water service is disrupted, a well is available to supply water needs. In addition, more than 5,000 gallons of water was moved on site to support patients and team members.
• AquaFence – Tampa General has completed assembly of the AquaFence to protect vulnerable areas of the campus against storm surge and flooding. The AquaFence is a water-impermeable barrier that can withstand storm surge up to 15 feet above sea level.

At Tampa General’s main campus, as well as the three hospitals that make up TGH North, preparations include:

• Supplies Stocked – More than five days of supplies, including food and linens, are on site to support patient care and team members.
• Patient Care – Tampa General health care providers and staff who are trained in emergency management will remain on-site throughout the storm to care for patients. As soon as the storm passes, and the roads are safe, additional providers and staff will return to work to relieve teams and continue supporting response and recovery efforts.

As Tampa General continues to monitor Hurricane Milton, any changes to hours of operation, services available or the visitation policy will be shared online.

For images and B-Roll of the hurricane preparation efforts at Tampa General, visit TGH Hurricane Milton.

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The new guidelines emphasize the importance of creating a multidisciplinary Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) Team within healthcare facilities. This team, comprising experts from various departments including human resources, legal, security, clinical services, mental health, and law enforcement, will be responsible for receiving, investigating, and managing threats in a systematic and evidence-based manner.

Key components of the Threat Management Guidelines include:

• Threat assessment: A fact-based method for assessing potential risks, focusing on a person’s behavior patterns to determine whether they pose a credible threat
• Team structure: The establishment of a multidisciplinary TAM Team, with a clear charter outlining roles, responsibilities, and reporting procedures
• Threat awareness training: Comprehensive training for all employees, including early identification of behaviors of concern, reporting protocols, and emergency response activation
• Policy development: Guidance for healthcare facilities to establish a written policy and workflow for managing threats, including documentation and record-keeping processes
• Victim advocacy: Provision of support and counseling for victims and those affected by potential threats

Mark Reed, Council on Guidelines member, stated:

IAHSS is committed to ensuring that healthcare facilities are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to protect their employees, patients, and visitors from potential threats. Our new guidelines are based on the latest research and best practices in threat management and are designed to foster a safer and more secure healthcare environment.

The updated Threat Management Guidelines [PDF file] encourage healthcare facilities to take a proactive approach to threat mitigation. This includes ongoing training, reviewing threat management trends, and conducting after-action debriefings to continually improve processes.

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Quality Uptime, headquartered in Bethel, CT, is a leading independent uninterrupted power supply system (UPS) maintenance and UPS battery maintenance company providing customized preventive and emergency service programs for mission-critical data centers and other facilities nationwide. Quality Uptime and its more than 130 employees will become part of ABM’s Mission Critical Solutions group within its Technical Solutions segment. Quality Uptime will initially maintain its brand identity while leveraging ABM’s resources and expertise in electrification infrastructure and microgrids to enhance its services and reach new customers.

With the addition of Quality Uptime, ABM’s Mission Critical Solutions group will offer comprehensive and complementary critical infrastructure solutions for data centers and similar crucial facilities, including electrical testing (NETA), electrical switchgear maintenance, breaker testing, UPS service and maintenance, and battery and power distribution unit service and maintenance. These services complement ABM’s existing robust offerings in microgrid design and construction services, critical cooling, technical project management, facility engineering and cleaning services, resulting in a self-performance model that is an industry leader.

Scott Salmirs, president and chief executive officer of ABM, stated:

The acquisition of Quality Uptime is expected to double ABM’s mission critical-related revenue in the first full year of ownership, driven by the surge in artificial intelligence and related investments in data center infrastructure.

Consistent with our ELEVATE strategy, we believe this investment positions ABM to further participate in the long-term proliferation of data centers, which already represents a multi-billion-dollar market. The addition of Quality Uptime aligns with our vision to drive innovation and deliver comprehensive solutions to our clients, and we are excited to welcome their CEO John Raio and this talented and experienced team to ABM.

John Raio, chief executive officer of Quality Uptime, remarked:

Joining ABM represents an exciting new chapter for us. Our clients and team will benefit from ABM’s scale and expanded suite of services, as well as the combined expertise of both organizations. We are excited about the opportunities this combination creates and are committed to continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation in the data center industry.

ABM is one of the world’s largest providers of integrated facility solutions. A driving force for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world, ABM provides essential services and forward-looking solutions that improve the spaces and places that matter most. From curbside to rooftop, ABM provides comprehensive facility services that includes janitorial, engineering, parking, electrical and lighting, energy solutions, HVAC and mechanical, landscape and turf, and mission-critical solutions. ABM delivers these custom facility solutions to properties across a wide range of industries — from commercial office buildings to universities, airports, hospitals, data centers, manufacturing plants and distribution centers, entertainment venues and more. Founded in 1909, ABM serves over 20,000 clients, with more than 100,000 team members in 350+ offices throughout the United States, United Kingdom and other international locations.

Supporting a national client base across multiple industries, Quality Uptime Services provides uninterrupted power supply system (“UPS”) and battery preventive maintenance through a team of factory-trained field service engineers. With over 9 million square feet of raised floor under contract and industry-leading customer retention, clients confidently engage Quality Uptime to maintain 100% uptime.

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