Developing an Evacuation Plan for Your Business
Zack Klein • May 18, 2022
Guarantee Restoration is in the business of helping you get back on your feet following unforeseen disasters, but in an ideal world, we would be able to help you prevent these disasters altogether. While we may not be able to stop that tropical storm or fire from ravaging your business, we can help you prepare. From content documentation to 3D imaging, there is a lot that we can do to help you and your business weather a storm, but perhaps the most important step you can take is implementing an evacuation plan to ensure every member of your team can reach safety.
Steps in Creating an Evacuation Plan
A successful evacuation plan will follow a pretty straightforward formula. To ensure that all your bases are covered, the plan should include all of the following:
- Determine All Situations in Which an Evacuation Would be Necessary - By outlining this information, you will remove all doubt for employees of when the evacuation protocol should be followed.
- Assign Roles and Responsibilities - Who will initiate the evacuation process? Who will assist customers out of the facility? At the time of disaster, confusion quickly leads to missed steps and potentially deadly outcomes. Make sure everyone has a clear understanding of their responsibilities in an emergency.
- Outline Evacuation Routes - Establish multiple evacuation routes for your business, both primary and secondary. Ensure that these routes are clearly marked, lit, and free of any obstacles. Make all employees aware of the plan and provide all relevant information such as maps and emergency phone numbers.
- Establish Procedures for Those with Disabilities - Your employees or customers may include individuals with disabilities. Your evacuation plans should take these individuals into account by ensuring that routes are handicap accessible, signs are clear and legible, and procedures have been established for those who may need assistance.
- Have a Post-Evacuation Plan - What should employees do and where should they go following an evacuation? In order to account for everyone’s safety and quickly identify anyone who may still need assistance exiting the building, a process to account for everyone post-evacuation should also be in place.
Preparing Your Business for Disaster
Disasters may come out of nowhere, but that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for them. The experts at Guarantee Restoration are well-versed in unforeseen events and how to help businesses overcome them quickly. Safeguard your business and your livelihood by contacting us to learn more about pre-loss planning.
Learn how using one team for mitigation and reconstruction streamlines disaster recovery, improves communication, and reduces downtime.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information: Zack Klein Director of Marketing and Business Development 225-753-8682 Zack@247GRS.com Guarantee Restoration Services Launches National Sales Team to Expand Strategic Partnerships Across the Country BATON ROUGE, La. – June 16, 2026 – Guarantee Restoration Services (GRS), a leading full-service restoration contractor serving the Gulf Coast since 1974, is proud to announce the implementation of its new National Sales Team. This strategic initiative marks an exciting step forward in the company’s continued growth and commitment to serving clients and partners on a broader scale. The newly established team will be led by Barrett Dick, Director of National Sales, alongside Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing. Together, they have played a pivotal role in growing GRS relationships across multiple industries throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond for over a decade. The team also includes newly hired account executives, David Stern and Chad Catalano. “Over the years, we have seen our partnerships and opportunities continue to grow beyond our traditional footprint,” said Zack Klein, Director of Business Development and Marketing at Guarantee Restoration Services. “Creating a dedicated National Sales Team allows us to strengthen those relationships, support our partners on a larger scale, and continue expanding the reach of the GRS brand, while staying true to the service and responsiveness we are known for.” Dick, who will celebrate 10 years with GRS next month, brings extensive industry knowledge and leadership experience to the role. He holds multiple Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) credentials, including Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT), and Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician (FSRT). After graduating from Louisiana State University, Barrett began his professional career with Marucci Sports before joining Guarantee Restoration Services in July 2016. Just weeks into his time with the company, the historic Great Flood of 2016 impacted Southeastern Louisiana, providing him with firsthand experience managing large-scale losses and coordinating restoration efforts for major school districts and commercial clients. Since then, he has helped cultivate business development efforts throughout Louisiana and nationally, working closely with partners in hospitality, education, government, healthcare, and other commercial sectors. “Our focus has always been relationship-driven,” said Dick. “We want our clients and partners to know they have a team they can rely on before, during, and after a disaster. This National Sales Team is another way we are investing in those relationships and positioning Guarantee to better serve organizations wherever they need us.” As part of the expansion, GRS hired David Stern as a National Sales Account Executive. Stern brings more than a decade of high-level sales and relationship management experience from the professional sports industry. Prior to joining our team, he served with the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans organization, where he consistently ranked among the organization’s top sales representatives and generated more than $38 million in multiyear contracts throughout his career. “David’s experience of building relationships, managing high-profile partnerships, and delivering exceptional client service makes him a tremendous addition to our team,” added Klein. “His background and skillset align perfectly with the direction we are heading as a company.” The National Sales Team also includes Chad Catalano, who joined Guarantee Restoration Services in January 2026. Catalano brings nearly two decades of restoration industry experience, with a strong background in sales leadership, project coordination, and relationship development throughout the Southeast and Gulf South regions. Prior to joining GRS, Catalano served as National Sales Manager for ServiceMaster DSI and spent more than 16 years with US Restoration as a Sales and Project Coordinator. Throughout his career, he has built long-standing partnerships while helping clients navigate complex restoration and recovery projects. In addition to his restoration industry experience, Catalano also spent several years as a successful high school baseball coach in the New Orleans area, earning multiple district championships and Coach of the Year honors. His leadership, communication skills, and client-focused approach make him a valuable addition to the growing national team. Guarantee Restoration Services continues to serve clients across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama with six locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans, Louisiana; Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama. With the implementation of its National Sales Team, GRS is further expanding its ability to support partners across the country through large-loss response, catastrophe recovery, and national account relationships. The company specializes in water, fire, mold, storm, and biohazard restoration, as well as reconstruction and pre-loss planning services. For more information about Guarantee Restoration Services, visit www.GuaranteeRestoration.com or call 1-800-349-HELP (4357).
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