Event Included Presentations by Local Emergency Planners and Partners
On Thursday, August 4, the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) and Allied Universal hosted “Prepare-Plan-Execute: Emergency Preparedness for the Unexpected” an informational session for Battery Park City property managers and those charged with preparing their buildings for an emergency event. The program, conducted at 6 River Terrace, was attended by more than two dozen building managers and staff, and included presentations about the Battery Park City Community Emergency Response Team’s (CERT) roles and responsibilities, best practices from the New York City Emergency Management Department, and a question and answer session.
“Battery Park City is, in short, a jewel – a neighborhood where our parks and community amenities are outshone only by the views,” said BPCA President and Chief Operating Officer Shari C. Hyman. “Our goal is to protect BPC and its residents well into the future against climate-related events, and it’s our building and property managers who play a critical role in doing just that.”
“Allied Universal truly values our partnership with Battery Park City. One of the ways we will provide greater value to the community is to integrate seamlessly with BPCA and CERT to in order to better prepare, respond, and quickly recover from emergencies, whether natural or man-made,” said Steve Sacchetti, Vice President of Business Development, Allied Universal Security Services.
“We want all building and property managers across the city to be prepared before an emergency,” said Ira Tannenbaum, Assistant Commissioner of Public Private Initiatives at NYC Emergency Management. “Today’s session was a great opportunity for us to connect with BPCA to bring residential and commercial partners together to share resources and provide the necessary information that could make a significant difference in the lives of the residents of the Battery Park City community.”
“Battery Park City CERT is prepared to continue cooperating in every way with BPCA and Allied Universal to help make the community safer and better able to respond to emergencies,” said Sidney Baumgarten, Chief of BPC CERT.
Battery Park City maintained electrical power during and after Hurricane Sandy and was not flooded to an extent comparable with other parts of lower Manhattan. The neighborhood still sustained significant damage, however, to its ball fields, Pier A, and the Community Center at Stuyvesant High School, necessitating millions of dollars in repairs. Today’s event, and more planned to follow, is aimed at familiarizing local building and property managers with New York City’s planning and best practices for climate-related events, as well as refreshing them about the roles and responsibilities of various local partners during emergencies.
“While Battery Park City fared far better than other parts of the city during Hurricane Sandy, comprehensive planning for future storms remains imperative,” said Catherine McVay Hughes, Co-Chair of NY Rising and member of Manhattan Community Board 1’s Resiliency Task Force. “I commend BPCA for its continued efforts to improve communication and coordination among partners in preparation for emergency events.”
About BPCA: The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority is a New York State public benefit corporation with a mission to plan, create, coordinate, and maintain a balanced community of commercial, residential, retail, and park space within its designated 92-acre site on the lower west side of Manhattan. For more info visit bpca.ny.gov.
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