Emergency Preparedness
Local Emergency Declared as Region Prepares for Strong El Niño
Southern California is preparing for what could be a strong El Niño season, making now an important time for commercial property teams to review their emergency plans.
Read MoreHow BIDs Can Help Property Teams Address Safety and Homelessness
Property teams can have strong security procedures inside their buildings, but many of the issues affecting tenants, employees, and visitors begin outside the property line. Homelessness-related activity, street conditions, vandalism, public safety incidents, and other neighborhood concerns can quickly become building operations issues. Property managers and security teams are often expected to respond, but they cannot address every issue on their own. That is where Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and other local partners can play an important role.
Read MoreEl Niño Is Strengthening: Is Your Building Ready?
Southern California property teams should start preparing now for what could be an unusually active winter storm season.
NOAA currently has an El Niño Advisory in effect and says El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during this fall and winter. While El Niño does not guarantee that Southern California will experience extreme rainfall, a stronger event increases the potential for typical El Niño impacts.
For commercial buildings, preparation shouldn’t wait until rain is in the forecast.
The Business Case for Earthquake Preparedness in Commercial Real Estate
For commercial real estate professionals, seismic preparedness is no longer just about meeting code requirements. It is becoming an important part of protecting assets, managing risk, and planning for the future.
Read MoreWhat Our Codes Committee Is Working on Next
What Our Codes Committee Is Working on Next Codes, Education, Emergency Preparedness The next major earthquake in California is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. For commercial real estate professionals, that means now is the time to ask important questions: Is your building prepared? Do you understand current seismic requirements?…
Read MoreIs Your Building Ready for the Next Big Earthquake?
As seismic regulations continue to evolve, property teams face growing responsibilities when it comes to building safety, compliance, and long-term planning. At the same time, insurance companies are paying closer attention to earthquake risk, which could affect building upgrades, coverage, and future investment decisions. To help members prepare, BOMA/GLA is hosting an educational event on Tuesday, August 4, in El Segundo.
Read MoreWhy Restoration Planning Matters Before the Next Emergency
The rapidly growing Sandy Fire in Simi Valley has already burned more than 1,300 acres, forced evacuations across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, and damaged structures as firefighters continue battling dangerous wind conditions. For commercial real estate owners and property managers, events like this are another reminder that emergency preparedness cannot begin once smoke is already in the air. Whether it’s a wildfire, earthquake, civil unrest event, major water leak, or power disruption, restoration and recovery planning should already be part of your building operations strategy long before an emergency occurs.
Read MoreThe World Cup Is Coming—Is Your Building Ready?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to California this summer, bringing millions of visitors, global attention, and weeks of sustained activity, not just a single-day event like the Super Bowl. For commercial real estate, that means a completely different operating environment that could impact everything from tenant access to building security and daily operations.
Read MorePreparing Buildings for Emerging Security Risks
Security professionals are increasingly discussing how emerging threats—particularly drones—could factor into future terrorism or security incidents. While commercial office buildings are unlikely to be primary targets, these conversations are prompting many property teams to review emergency preparedness plans and ensure their procedures remain up to date.
Read MoreHeavy Rain Ahead: What SoCal Property Managers Should Prepare For
Southern California is expected to see multiple rounds of heavy rain this week as a series of atmospheric river storms move through the region, bringing an increased risk of flooding, strong winds, and power outages through Christmas and into the end of the week. These conditions can disrupt building operations, impact tenant safety and access, and require rapid coordination with service providers during an already compressed holiday schedule.
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