Wildfires in the western U.S. have nearly become a year-round threat. Currently, 15 states from Alaska to New Mexico are reporting large fires and all it takes is a shift in the wind to spur an emergency evacuation. If your business travel takes you in the vicinity of an active fire, can you be contacted in the event of an emergency?

Employers have a duty of care for their employees. That means that in addition to a moral responsibility to keep employees safe, they also have a legal responsibility to protect you when you are traveling for work. To meet that responsibility, it’s essential that your company knows where you are and can reach you.

Let’s say you fly into San Francisco for a week of sales meetings throughout the Bay Area. You booked your airline ticket and a car rental through Concur, our online reservation system, and submitted your itinerary to your boss. But you booked your hotel directly because you stay there often and know the reception staff.

Then an event happens. In California, it could be a wildfire blaze, an earthquake or sadly, another active shooter rampage. In other places, it might be a hurricane, flash flooding or a volcano eruption. Whenever a threatening event occurs, Covington can quickly help companies identify any travelers who may be at risk in the area, so they may provide guidance and assistance consistent with their duty of care.

When the entire trip – including hotel – is booked in our reservation systems, we can provide your company with more accurate details and assist in making necessary alternative arrangements. If the original reservations are not booked with Covington, we cannot make subsequent changes and protection.

Only news reporters and first responders purposely head toward natural disasters, political uprisings, and tragic acts of violence. The rest of us prefer to get away from immediate danger. Covington wants to assist your company in keeping you safe when you travel. You can help by booking all your travel components in one place to make it quicker to find you in the event of an emergency. For self-reservations, our Concur online booking tool makes that easy, or we have a team of personable live agents available to assist by phone or email.