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PDP Plans: Sept. 11, 2009

Based on the newly-released information this week, the PDP has determined that all staff will be required to work during the G-20 Summit. A few employees have the option of working remotely, but the majority will be in town. This includes all Clean and Safe Ambassadors. Some roles may change to accommodate specific requests or needs during the Summit, however.

We arranged to have extra folks on staff and will have people on duty round-the-clock in/near our building.

All PDP staff received a copy of its Business Contingency/Disaster Recovery Plan. We went over it in detail at our staff meeting and will test it prior to the G-20. So, only our CEO knows when that is going to happen! It will be great practice for us and it’s something every business should do at least once a year.

All staff understands that flexibility is key and that plans might change at any moment. Everyone also knows that working those two days won’t be like an average day in the office.


A Message from the PDP

The Pittsburgh Summit represents an incredible opportunity to showcase our city and region to the world, to tout our strengths and to demonstrate why Pittsburgh is a great place to live, work, play and do business. Recognizing that such an event brings with it challenges on a scale we’ve never before seen, it is understandable that anxiety is building about how Downtown will continue to operate on Sept. 24 and 25. We at the PDP are experiencing the same challenges—should we open or close, how will our staff get into town, what will Downtown be like and how can we help others when we don’t know what to expect ourselves? Well, slowly details are being released and we’re doing our best to inform you while at the same time making our plans to continue operating—even in a modified capacity.

  • If you own a business or are an employer in Downtown, we realize there are a lot of things to consider as you make decisions about how you will conduct business that week. We can’t make the decision for you, but we can provide you with information to help you along. Here are a few points to keep in mind:
  • The closer you are to the downtown venues hosting events (Convention Center, Warhol Museum and CAPA), the greater the likelihood that you will be inside some sort of a perimeter with restricted access points.
     
  • Traffic disruptions could begin early in the week and will be the most significant on Sept. 24 and 25 due to the moving motorcades.
     
  • While specific details aren’t known yet, plan for most, if not all, of Downtown’s Golden Triangle to be closed to traffic on Sept. 24 and 25. Pedestrians will be able to gain access, so using transit to a certain point or parking on the outskirts of town, will likely be an option. The good thing is that our Downtown is very walk-able!
     
  • Communicate to your customers, clients, staff, etc. that they should give themselves a lot of extra time to get to town and to plan on walking farther distances than normal. Comfortable shoes will be key!
     
  • If your business does not require that all employees be on site, this might be a good time to allow staff to work from home remotely or from alternate locations. Be sure to test your company’s remote capabilities and encourage staff to log on well before needed in case you need to work out any bugs.
     
  • If your business relies on deliveries, consider making arrangements now to get them early in the week, as it is likely roads into town won’t be accessible on Thursday and Friday.
     
  • Pull out your business contingency plan if you have one. If you don’t, there is a great resource available to businesses to help them plan for unexpected situations. Go to www.prbchs.org for details. Also, be sure to sign up for BECON, a free communications system of the state’s Region 13 homeland security task force, to get immediate e-mail updates about traffic closures or public safety concerns.
     
  • Look around your building and remove, repair or replace, any loose items, such as bricks, blocks, etc.
  • Have staff information, including W-2’s and I-9’s readily available, along with lists of other key contractors and vendors. Develop an alternate list of suppliers/contractors.
  • Make sure employees have appropriate photo identification with them at all times, such as drivers’ licenses.
  • Determine how you will communicate with employees quickly, whether it be through a phone-tree, text-messaging, a hotline number or password- protected web page.
  • Take pictures of your property now, during and after the Summit.
  • Talk to your insurance brokers and agents before the G-20—the sooner the better, so you can have a better understanding of how different scenarios may impact your business and what policies you have in place to protect your assets.
  • Review your security plans in and around your building. Maybe you can share overnight security with adjacent buildings.
     

Business Emergency Communications Network (BECON)

The PDP recently signed up to receive free safety information from "BECON" a program started by the PA Region 13 Task Force and the Pittsburgh Regional Business Coalition for Homeland Security. If you are an employer in the Downtown Pittsburgh area, we encourage you to take advantage of free safety information for your business and your employees.

"BECON" was created to assist the business community in better preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural or man-made disasters.

Participating is easy—click here to begin receiving important information from BECON today!

PDP Preparations for G-20

  • We’ve determined which staff members will be working on Sept. 24 and 25. Some will be coming into town and they are making their own plans to do so. Other staff members are planning to work remotely. Employees are permitted to use vacation or personal days during the Summit, but they must get it approved by the president ahead of time.
  • We've signed up to receive free safety information from "BECON"
  • We are still working out our plans for Downtown’s Clean and Safe Ambassadors, recognizing that getting into work could be challenging for certain staff.
  • We know that our garbage cans in Downtown will be removed sometime that week so we are thinking through how we might provide some modified cleaning/trash removal during those days. We are planning to ramp up our cleaning efforts on Saturday, Sept. 26.
  • Our marketing staff is discussing how it plans to use Facebook and Twitter to communicate important news and information during the Summit.
  • We’re reviewing and updating our policies for visitors who come into our building/office.
  • Employees have updated their personal information and emergency contact information.
  • Everyone has been asked to test the remote log-in instructions so they can work from home or another location.
  • We’re keeping an eye out for suspicious activity or markings in and around our office

Pittsburgh Summit 2009 Business Report

The G-20 Summit Business Report was prepared by Civitas Consulting LLC. The report was generated to help businesses and organizations in the Pittsburgh region prepare for the upcoming Pittsburgh Summit and includes recommendations from national consultants who visited Pittsburgh to share insight about nationl security events hosted in other cities.

Additional Summit Information for Employers

Useful information for employers including a "Frequently Asked Questions" flyer and a transporation survey to plan for possible transportation disruptions can be found at the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership Website. Information will be updated as it becomes available.