Captain Jay Sikes of the SAFD states that "The only plan currently required by the City is an Emergency Evacuation Plan. That requirement is applicable only to "high rise" structures (defined as at least 75 from ground level to the floor of the highest occupiable level) and is enforced by the Fire Prevention Division. It is found in the 1997 Uniform Fire Code as amended and adopted by the City of San Antonio. As far as voluntarily submitting a complete emergency preparedness plan, I can only stress life safety and perhaps an insurance benefit."

In addition to the Emergency Evacuation Plan described above, the city is requesting an electronic copy of an Emergency Preparedness Plan from all commercial properties regardless of the building's height. This plan consists of two parts, known as Tab A and Tab B.

Tab A is the First Responder's Plan, and is a relatively brief document. It consists of a site plan, which resembles a simple map and plots your development and nearby buildings and identifies streets, railroads, etc. in the area. Floor plans for every floor of your building are also included in this section, with structural elements such as corridors and exits clearly depicted. There is also a form known as the Pre-Fire Plan Survey Report, a portion of which is completed by the manager and a portion by Fire Department Personnel. When Tab A is turned into the EOC, an officer will physically walk the property with you and complete their portion of the survey report.

Tab B is the actual Emergency Preparedness Plan specific to your property. This comprehensive document covers all types of emergencies your building and its tenants might face, and the action that should be taken. For an excellent guide to preparing this plan, visit the Department of Justice website at www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/epm/tab10.pdf.

The EOC has specifically asked SABOMA to remind managers that emergency contact information should be as complete as possible. For an office phone number, it should be a direct line to that person's desk if possible, and not a main switchboard number because time is of the essence in an emergency. Also, all additional numbers for the contacts should be included; for example, home, cell and pager.

Providing home phone numbers, as well as handing over sensitive information about your building may bring up privacy concerns. The OEC wishes to assure all members that the information is for internal use only. Important: They also recommend stamping all documents as "DRAFT" since this will protect them from being requested by the media under the Freedom of Information Act.

Your plan should be in Word format for the text sections and Excel format for the maps. It should be submitted electronically on a CD (no hard copies) and mailed to SAPD Emergency Operations Center, Attn: Officer Eric Shuey, 115 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio, TX 78205. If you have any questions about submitting your plan,