National Restaurant Association Releases "Always Ready: Public Safety" Guide

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The National Restaurant Association has released a new guide, "Always Ready: Public Safety," aimed at helping restaurant operators and employees prepare for and recover from public safety incidents.

Restaurants serve as gathering places for families, friends, and communities, but this accessibility also creates vulnerabilities. From robberies and customer altercations to break-ins and active threats, these establishments face a range of public safety challenges that can occur without warning. The new guide provides a practical framework to help operators reduce risks, strengthen preparedness, and support employees and guests during incidents.

Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association, stated, "Safety preparedness is good business for restaurant operators. Having a plan in place when the unexpected happens safeguards their ability to make informed decisions during fast-moving and volatile situations. With restaurant-specific tools, this Always Ready guide equips operators to prepare in advance for public safety scenarios, manage them effectively in the moment, and recover business operations as quickly and safely as possible."

The guide is structured around three key phases: 1. Prepare: This involves identifying vulnerabilities, improving facility security, strengthening procedures, and training employees. 2. Manage: This phase focuses on clear emergency protocols that prioritize life safety, communication, and coordination with first responders. 3. Recover: This phase supports employees and guests, documents events, coordinates with insurers and authorities, and restores operations safely.

In addition to these phases, the guide offers guidance on crisis communications, recovery planning, insurance considerations, and long-term reputation management.

Always Ready: Public Safety is the fifth guide in the National Restaurant Association's Always Ready preparedness series, specifically created for the restaurant industry. The series, which includes guides for utility disruptions, foodborne illness outbreaks, fires, and natural disasters, provides practical, industry-informed resources to help operators prepare for, manage, and recover from various incidents.

To download the new guide and explore the complete series, visit the Always Ready resource library.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, comprising more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.7 million employees. The association works with 52 State Associations to form a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety.