She says the volunteers work in nine-hour shifts around the clock and will be at the site until Saturday. REBNY is serving as a liaison for members of the real estate industry with up-to-the-minute information about any possible emergency situations. Other industries involved in the effort include utilities and telecommunications.

A while ago, OEM requested that REBNY join the private sector representation for the activation of the Emergency Operations Center during the convention. Volunteers were assembled and they went through training including a command-post simulation exercise.

The Emergency Operations Center is a crisis command center activated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and managed by OEM. It serves as the central coordination point for agency and resource response in a serious or potentially serious emergency. With over 80 representatives from the private sector and city, state and federal government agencies, the EOC acts as a central clearinghouse for information sharing. Davenport says the office was activated during last year's blackout.