David Mistick

Circumspex' Mistick to Join the Faculty at the Restoration Leadership Institute

The Restoration Leadership Institute is the leader in providing value-added training to the property damage restoration industry. We provide a wide range of affordable courses that the restoration industry requires. Our courses help businesses stay on the cutting edge and dominate in their markets.

From the very beginning, our goal has been to facilitate courses from industry experts in the property restoration field. Instructors come from nationally recognized schools and are renowned as industry experts. Classes are limited to designated sizes based on each topic. This method has traditionally proven to be most conducive to learning.

For more information on the courses we offer, view our Course Catalog. Check out our Course Schedule to view courses we are currently offering at http://www.restorationleadership.com/

Red Cross suffers fire, issues caution for others

Posted: Monday, December 7, 2009 2:39 pm



Following an electrical fire that broke out in the restroom of the local Heart of Tennessee Chapter early Sunday morning, the Red Cross would like to remind other businesses to prepare for disasters. The fire was contained within the restroom but destroyed the ceiling and damaged the restroom causing the chapter to shut down Blood Services from collecting blood for two days. 



“We were very fortunate the fire wasn’t any worse because it could have caused some major damage,” said Red Cross CEO Greg King. “Local businesses should definitely have a plan in place of how to continue operations after a disaster such as a fire, flood or tornado.”
Businesses should not risk operating without a disaster plan. While reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake. These shattered businesses were unprepared for a disaster and they had no plan or backup systems.

A disaster plan should consider three subjects: human resources, physical resources, and business continuity. 

“So often we respond to fires in the community that it was a role reversal when the fire was actually in our building, “King said. “Our Continuity of Operations Plan, helped us respond quickly with minimal interruption to our operations.”



For additional information and a brochure about how to develop business continuity plan as well as other resources contact the Heart of Tennessee Chapter via e-mail at chapter@hot-redcross.org. 

The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross provides vital emergency assistance to help victims of local disasters in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Franklin, Coffee & Moore counties. Over the past year the Chapter trained nearly 15,000 people in CPR & First Aid, Babysitting and Aquatics training, and provided pre-deployment briefings and emergency communications for over 640 active duty military personnel and their families. Over 13,177 pints of information please call 615) 893-4272 or log on to www.midtnredcross.org.life-saving blood were collected from the community last year. All of these services are made possible by over 320 dedicated local Red Cross volunteers as well as through generous gifts from

 

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/red-cross-suffers-fire-issues-caution-for-others-cms-20797

What Pandemic?

Worldwide governments and public health officials are looking askance at the World Health Organization. After hundreds of millions of dollars and man hours people are wondering just how the WHO could get it so wrong. Statistics reflect the fact that the number of reported cases have been declining since November.

Passing somewhat under the radar is the fact the the WHO changed the official definition of "pandemic" early this year. The new definition is not based on the number of sick or dead.  Rather it is now only tied to the widespread nature of an outbreak. Imagine that!  For more on this story please follow this link:

columbiavalleynews.com/.../what-pandemic-a-call-to-revise-the-international- health-regulations-and-reform-who

The G20 Summit: A Disaster?

Excitement abounds as Pittsburgh prepares to host the G20 summit in September. Perhaps not quite the excitement shown over the Superbowl win this year, or the Stanley Cup returning to Pittsburgh this year, but then we are a city of sports fanatics.

The G20 will be a major showcase for a beautiful city. Building and business owners within the golden triangle, however, are preparing for the two-day event as though a major natural disaster were headed our way.

A city built of bridges and tunnels, Pittsburgh traffic is difficult on a good day. Add the rolling security shut-downs of major roadways as dignitaries make their way in and out of their events and Pittsburgher's know there will be no quick or easy way to head into or out of the office. Employers and building owners know it too, and are planning almost as if a pandemic were scheduled for September 24, 2009. Plans being considered include everything from a complete holiday, to housing essential workers in the office buildings, to telecommuting and more.

Building owners and managers are establishing communication protocols to alert each other in the event protesters become unruly in their area. Along with foreign dignitaries and media, protesters are estimated to be 50,000 strong during the meetings. Buildings constructed mostly of glass are stockpiling plywood in anticipation of broken windows. Security checkpoints are being examined and strengthened. Every aspect of managing a business or a building in downtown Pittsburgh is being scrutinized to insure the least possible disruption to property, people and procedures.

Supplies are being gathered, and work plans put in place. This is business continuity planning as surely as are the plans for hurricanes and fires. Fortunately, the G20 comes with more advance warning. Savvy property and business professionals are taking full advantage of the opportunity to have their plans firmly in place.

DAVID MISTICK NO LONGER AT CHURCH RESTORATION GROUP

David and many of his key long term project managers are no longer at Church Restoration Group. He continues to be involved in disaster planning and restoration across the United States. David may be reached at 412-812-0211, email dave@mistickpg.com

Hurricane Recovery

Well it looks like Hurricane Ike will press the patience and resources to the limits in the next week.  Currently wreaking havoc on the islands in the Caribbean It looks as if Ike will turn toward the Gulf Coast and possibly hit New Orleans.  It has been a cruel and intense hurricane season already and there is a lot of it remaining.

It appears that FEMA, the state and the city did a great job in the evacuation last week. People are still trying to return home  though largely due to the inability of the power companies with shared resources to bring the grids back up.

We should keep the residents and the responders in our thoughts and prayers as we head into this next storm.  It will test their human resolve to continue on in the face of these back to back storms. It is almost a certainty that public and private resources will be strained. Hopefully the public recovery efforts will be as successful as the evacuation was.

Church Restoration from Flood

Today throughout Florida many church congregations are facing the prospects of cleaning up the mud and water in their churches and schools. After the surge of angst and nervous energy to restore the facilities many will have an unhappy moment when they realize that they have no flood coverage.
This coverage is often not included in basic property policies. A few enlightened captives make this an essential part of their programs. However, most of the carriers offer no basic coverage.
Be good stewards---know your perils, ask informed questions and protect your church home.

Church Insurance Coverage

Over this busy summer season I have been consulting on several significant church fire claims. All of them are losses in excess of two million dollars. Although they represent different congregations in different geographic locations they shared one common element. That common thread was inadequate coverage for the cost of code upgrades.
Sometimes common sense does not prevail. It would seem a simple truth that a hundred year old church with replacement costs in excess of three million dollars would require more than fifty thousand dollars in code and ordinance coverage.
Just think of current code requirements regarding fire detection and suppression, accessibility, make up air requirements to cite only a few. Be good stewards of your church properties and consult your local code official as to what requirements might come into play in the event of a significant fire. Then discuss coverage for those issues with your insurance broker.

Dave Mistick To Address Church Insurance Company's Annual Spring Meeting

Once again the Church Insurance Company, the primary insurer of Episcopal Church property in America, has invited Dave Mistick to address its annual nationwide meeting of diocesan administrators and risk managers. For several years Church Insurance has asked Dave to share his insights on disaster planning and restoration with this group. Dave brings more than thirty years of experience in historic and disaster restoration to the podium. His hands on view of the disaster world is always informative with a healthy dose of humor.

Circumspex To Exhibit at DRC Show

Paul Campbell and I are pleased to announce that Circumpex will be exhibiting at the DRC show in Niagara Falls APril 28th and 29th. The full power of Circumspex our web based disaster planning software will be demonstrated. It has recently received rave reviews in initial rollouts at businesses and colleges. For more info please visit www.mistickpg.com until our new Circumspex web site appears next month.