September’s National Preparedness Month Reinforces the Need to Prioritize Clean Air in Recovery Efforts Following Wildfires, Storms and Floods 

As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, Fellowes Brands – a leading provider of commercial air quality management (AQM) systems – urges businesses to make indoor air quality (IAQ) a core part of their disaster prevention and recovery plans. With September marking National Preparedness Month, it’s the ideal time to address this often-overlooked issue.

True disaster readiness goes beyond first aid kits and evacuation drills. From wildfires and hurricanes to floods and even industrial accidents, catastrophic events can leave behind lasting air quality threats that compromise building safety. Smoke particles, mold spores, chemical residues, particulate matter like PM2.5, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can infiltrate indoor environments and linger for weeks, months and even years. Floodwaters can introduce bacteria and mold into walls and HVAC systems, while wildfire smoke can push fine particulate matter deep into buildings, even those far from the flames. Without proper mitigation, these contaminants can disrupt business operations, prolong downtime and pose serious long-term health risks to occupants. 

Fellowes recommends the following IAQ-focused steps to strengthen business readiness: 

• Conduct an IAQ assessment to establish a baseline for current air quality conditions under typical occupancy and identify existing vulnerabilities in ventilation or filtration 
• Invest in commercial-grade air purifiers equipped with zone-based cleaning systems, real-time response automation and H13 True HEPA and activated carbon filters to capture ultrafine particulate matter, smoke, mold spores and more 
• Stock portable air purification units and replacement filters in emergency supply inventories, especially in high-risk regions 
• Implement humidity control and detection devices to mitigate mold growth in the case of a storm or flooding
• Install water filters capable of trapping particulate matter and microplastics from storm pollution 
• Train facilities teams on disaster IAQ protocols and best practices for pre, during, and post events

National Preparedness Month is an annual campaign by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminding the public of the importance of preparing for an emergency or disaster. Throughout the month of September, DHS shares tips for assessing needs, creating a preparedness toolkit and developing a disaster response plan.  

“Disaster can strike without warning and the air inside your building can become just as hazardous as the visible damage,” said Jason Jones, Director of Air Quality Management at Fellowes. “Clean air isn’t a luxury; it’s critical to business continuity, employee safety and long-term resilience. By assessing the air in your building, investing in proper solutions and training teams to respond to hidden environmental threats year-round, recovery from disaster can be far less difficult and costly.” 

For more information on disaster recovery and IAQ preparedness, visit the Fellowes Air Quality Management blog at: https://fellowesblog.com/2025/06/16/beyond-the-flames-and-floodwaters-why-indoor-air-quality-is-critical-to-disaster-recovery/. Learn more about National Preparedness Month and creating a disaster recovery plan at: https://www.ready.gov/plan. 

About Fellowes

Celebrating its 108th year under the private ownership and executive leadership of the Fellowes family, Fellowes is a global leader and trusted partner that provides product solutions to fulfill a broad range of WorkLife needs that enable greater productivity, wellness, and inspiration. Throughout its history, Fellowes has been grounded in its purpose to “serve at the intersection of family, innovation, quality and care.” 

Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, USA, Fellowes operates from 24 locations across the globe. For more information, please visit Fellowes.com.