BOMA Executives Present on Pandemic Flu Preparation at Real Estate Roundtable Meeting
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| BOMA International Chairman Kurt Padavano at the Fall Real Estate Roundtable Meeting |
During the October 4 meeting of the Real Estate Roundtable (RER) in Washington DC, BOMA International Chairman and Chief-Elected Officer Kurt Padavano and BOMA International President and COO Henry Chamberlain joined government officials for a presentation on pandemic flu preparation.
Padavano briefed RER attendees on the industry’s preparation to date in the event of a pandemic flu, which includes BOMA’s dedicated Pandemic Flu Resources page with information to help communities, companies and individuals plan for a possible outbreak. Also mentioned were the resources of several BOMA local associations that have preparation and response plans available to members, as well as the recent Planning for Pandemic Flu Web-assisted audio seminar, co-sponsored by BOMA International and hosted by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), in partnership with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Padavano reminded attendees that BOMA continues to work closely with the government on pandemic planning, and will provide the latest information and resources to BOMA members and the industry as they become available.
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from left: BOMA International Chairman Kurt Padavano and BOMA President and COO Henry Chamberlain speak with Dr. Rajeev Venkayya, M.D., Special Assistant to the President for Bio-Defense, White House Homeland Security Council
photos courtesy of the Real Estate Roundtable |
Dr. Rajeev Venkayya, M.D., Special Assistant to the President for Bio-Defense, White House Homeland Security Council, and George W. Foresman, First Under Secretary, Preparedness Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, also spoke during the pandemic flu presentation. Dr. Venkayya recommended that the industry focus its warning on a possible pandemic outbreak as opposed to an avian flu outbreak and noted that the three major pandemics of the past century began as the avian flu and then mutated, exactly the scenario the government is planning against. He warned that if there is an outbreak similar to the 1918 Spanish flu, roughly 90 million people in the U.S., or one-third of the population, could become sick.
Foresman told attendees that the government’s number one concern is how to physically protect people as quarantine periods could last six to eight week in affected communities. He stressed that the economic impact could be staggering but that some businesses are better equipped to work remotely if a pandemic hits.
National Multi Housing Council’s (NMHC) Chairman Mary Ann King and NMHC President Douglas Bibby also took part in the meeting, presenting their resources. The meeting reinforced the extraordinary cooperation and sharing going on industry wide to ensure we are all as prepared as possible for an outbreak.
For the latest government information, visit www.pandemicflu.gov. For industry-specific resources, visit BOMA International’s Pandemic Flu Resources page.