Community Emergency Plan

Shawn Folks • January 7, 2019

According to research, most people that believe they are “prepared” for disasters, aren’t as prepared as they think. Almost 20% of people have a disability that would affect their capacity to respond to an emergency situation, but shockingly only one out of four people have made arrangements specific to their disability to help them respond safely in the event of an emergency.


Becoming more prepared in case of an emergency is easier than you may think. Taking a few simple steps to prepare your apartment community, could save you trouble down the road.


Prepare Your Community

Check out local organizations already doing work. Many service groups have identified community needs and have built the expertise to provide solutions. By just making a few phone calls or scanning a few websites, you can find all the information you need to know.


  1. Identify Local Partners: Find Citizen Corps Councils, Community Emergency Response Teams, Fire Corps units, Medical Reserve Corps and ask them what you can do to prepare and train yourself and your community for disasters.
  2. Get in touch with your local fire department, police department, paramedics, or emergency management agency to discuss ways to prepare your apartment community and improve its capacity to respond and recover from a disaster.
  3. Demonstrate and hand out all emergency procedures. We recommend:


  1. Information on shut downs of major building systems
  2. Locations of emergency exits in the building
  3. Location of the nearest shelter
  4. Phone numbers of emergency responders – medics, firefighters, police
  5. Evacuation routes and emergency kits
  6. Sources of vital information – National Weather Service, FEMA, Red Cross, USA.gov and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Having your local agencies come to your community to demonstrate how to prepare for a disaster could save you from chaos down the road. Having demonstrations once a month and enticing your tenants to attend these events, will help your community be prepared in the instance of a disaster occurring.


Prepare Yourself

Creating and alerting your tenants with emergency procedures is key. Take it a step further by hosting demonstrations once a month in the front lobby. Offer tenants free lunch/dinner if they attend! The more your tenants are in the know, the safer your complex is.


  1. Who is shutting off water, gas and electricity?
  2. What are building procedures in case of power failure?


Know what tasks need to be performed and who is responsible for completing them. Designate back-up people. Have your residents and staff’s contact information in several different places. You will want to do a roll call if anything happens.


  1. Maintain your list of residents. Have one contact person or check-in phone number for everyone. Emergency responders may ask you to provide a list of residents and staff to make sure everyone is accounted for.
  2. Keep your keys and codes organized and accurately labeled. Medics may need access to locked doors to save someone’s life.
  3. Have a special emergency plan for those with disabilities and the elderly. Notify responders of the residents in your building who may require extra assistance ahead of time.


If you experience a disaster in your community, give Guarantee Restoration a call at 1-800-349-4357.

CONTACT US
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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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