Dear Tenants,
Kennedy Investments has been carefully monitoring the reports of Hurricane Irma and is issuing this safety advisory to our tenants:
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has declared a local state of emergency in the City of Tampa in response to the approach of Hurricane Irma. Residents are strongly urged to follow the orders and recommendations of government officials with regard to possible evacuations and preparation concerning the category 5 storm.
The City of Tampa Office of Emergency Management will provide updates via city social media accounts. Follow @CityofTampa and @AlertTampa on Twitter.
A storm hotline will be available starting 8 a.m. Thursday, September 7 to answer any questions regarding the storm and city services. The toll-free number is (844) 852-8889. You can also text TAMPAREADY to 888 777 to receive text updates to your mobile device. Please encourage others to sign up for emergency notifications at www.tampagov.net/
Kennedy Investments will close our offices on Thursday afternoon to allow our employees time to prepare their homes and families for the storm. We are recommending that our tenants close their offices on Friday and to remain closed until the storm passes.
PLEASE TAKE THESE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOUR PERSONNEL AND BUSINESS:
- Designate our primary emergency point of contact in your organization (if this is not you, please provide us with the name, direct phone number and e-mail address of your designated point of contact.)
- Ensure your primary emergency contact has contact information for all your personnel and establish an emergency communications protocol for your employees.
- Consider setting up your company voicemail and activating your “out of office” e-mail responses to inform customers and callers of your company’s status.
- Initiate back-ups of your critical data and servers. Shut down, unplug and move critical computer systems off the floor and away from exterior windows and doors. Cover with plastic if necessary.
- Put your work laptops and portable equipment in a locked, safe location and bring in any items stored outside. Remove your personal valuables from the office.
- Turn off lights and set your alarm. Close all of your interior office and hallway doors. Lock your main entrance door upon exiting.
Even though your office may not be in an evacuation zone, it is possible that TECO will terminate power to the property. In the event of a power outage, severe flooding, or wind or tree damage, access to the property may be prevented or prohibited for several days.
MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER
If a mandatory evacuation order is issued for our area, DO NOT RETURN TO THE PROPERTY UNTIL THE ORDER IS LIFTED.
DAMAGE AT THE PROPERTY
If the property is damaged or an unsafe condition exists, we will notify your designated emergency contact as soon as possible. Your emergency contact will be responsible for disseminating this information among your organization.
If you observe any damage to the property during the storm or upon your return, please e-mail us or call our offices as soon as possible at (813) 554-1200 and leave a message with your phone number and e-mail. One of our managers will respond as soon as possible. This line also receives text messages.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION RESOURCES
Remember:
- If a HURRICANE WATCH is issued, a hurricane landfall is POSSIBLE in your area within 36 hours. Be ALERT!
- If a HURRICANE WARNING is issued, a hurricane landfall is EXPECTED in your area within 24 hours. TAKE ACTION!
Online Resources:
- Weather.com
- AAA Storm Safety Guide
- National Hurricane Center Preparedness Guide
- NOAA page on Hurricane Irma
- Hillsborough County Evacuation Zone Info
- Emergency Management Info for Tampa Bay
- Florida Division of Emergency Management
- Tampa Road Closures and Transportation Advisories
Over the next few days, we will be posting updates regarding Kennedy Investments and its properties on our website at www.KennedyInvestments.com, via Twitter @CREinFlorida, and on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennedyInvestmentsInc/
Most importantly, please do what you can to ensure your safety and the safety and security of your family, co-workers, neighbors and fellow citizens over the next few days. Our thoughts and prayers will be with all of those affected by the storm and its aftermath. We look forward to getting everyone safely back to work when it passes.
Sincerely,
Kennedy Investments, Inc.
2901 W. Busch Blvd. (Twin Lakes)
Suite 901
Tampa FL 33618
(813) 554-1200
www.KennedyInvestments.com