The Bulletin Q1 2026

The Bulletin | Q1 2026

PUBLIC ENTITY SPECIALTY GROUP

As we kick off the first quarter of the year, we’re pleased to highlight a recent webinar, Disaster Planning Essentials for Public Entities. We were fortunate to host Michele Presley, COO at SERVPRO – Team Meyer, who shared valuable insights on establishing Emergency Ready Profiles (ERP), with an emphasis on proactive planning, risk mitigation, and efficiently returning to normal operations following a disaster.

If your facility were impacted by a disaster tomorrow—flood, fire, cyberattack, or severe weather—how would your operations continue, and what obstacles would we face in the first 2 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days?

Clients and prospects were invited to attend this virtual session. If you were unable to join us live, you can watch the recording:

FMSI Webinar Recording | Disaster Planning Essentials for Public Entities

Looking ahead, we plan to host quarterly webinars focused on timely, relevant topics specifically designed for public entities. Be on the lookout for an upcoming invitation to our next session, which will focus on cybersecurity risks and best practices.

As part of our proactive servicing approach, Kelly Cook from our team also shared winter safety tips with clients to help increase awareness around slips, trips, and falls during the winter months. Clients received mailed posters to display throughout their facilities, along with a follow-up email highlighting practical prevention strategies.

If you’re interested in receiving a copy of our Winter Safety Poster for your office, please reach out using the contact information below, and our team would be happy to share it with you.

While not all claims are preventable, taking proactive steps like these can help reduce risk and support a safer work environment.

Top Tips to Help Prevent Employee Winter Slips and Falls:

The first quarter is an ideal time to assess preparedness and safety initiatives for the year ahead. We encourage clients to take a moment to review emergency response plans, reinforce winter safety practices, and identify any areas where additional support may be helpful. Reach out to your service team to schedule a review or to learn how we can assist in strengthening your risk management approach.

Prompt Snow & Ice Removal – Clear sidewalks, parking lots, entrances, and outdoor stairs as soon as possible following winter weather.
Apply Sand or Salt – Regularly treat walking surfaces with sand, salt, or ice melt, especially before employees arrive and throughout the day in high-traffic areas.
Install Weather Mats & Runners – Place absorbent, non-slip mats inside entryways and transition areas to capture snow, ice, and water.
Maintain Adequate Lighting – Ensure outdoor and entrance lighting is sufficient so hazards are visible during shorter daylight hours.
Use Warning Signs – Post clear signage (e.g., “Caution: Slippery When Wet” or “Watch for Ice”) near entrances, steps, and parking areas.
Encourage Hazard Reporting – Establish a process for employees to report slippery areas, unsafe conditions, or near-miss incidents, and respond promptly.
Provide Footwear Guidance – Encourage employees to wear slip-resistant shoes or boots during winter months.
Conduct Regular Inspections – Schedule routine checks of walking surfaces throughout the winter and promptly correct identified hazards.
Educate Employees – Offer winter safety training that covers hazard awareness, reporting procedures, and safe walking techniques.
Practice the Penguin Shuffle – Walk flat-footed with short steps, keep your center of balance over your feet, use handrails when available, and move slowly and deliberately on icy surfaces.

Public entity team highlight

Congratulations to our Public Entity Senior Account Manager, Jenyse Durham, on earning her Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM) designation. This credential reflects Jenyse’s advanced expertise in school risk management and strengthens our ability to provide clients with informed guidance, proactive risk strategies, and enhanced support tailored to the unique needs of public entities.

Why First MainStreet

InteresteFirst MainStreet Insurance's Public Entity Specialty Group team is looking to grow the base of the clients we serve throughout Iowa. We have a process that prompts conversation around what the current state is of your organization’s risk management and insurance setup, as well as ideas on how to improve that situation moving forward.

Interested in continuing the conversation? Here are a few ways to get started:

Schedule an intro meeting with our team. This conversation allows us to learn more about your organization, share our approach, and determine together whether there may be a good fit to work collaboratively. To schedule an intro meeting, click here: FMSI Public Entity Scheduler.
Complete our abbreviated discovery assessment. This short survey helps us understand where your organization is already well supported and where additional value may exist. It takes approximately 5–10 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: FMSI Public Entity Pathfinder Assessment.

Let’s stay Connected

We’re pleased to share this quarterly bulletin, designed to provide timely and relevant insights for the public entity space. You’ll continue to receive future editions with practical, value-driven content. While this newsletter serves as an introduction, we welcome the opportunity for a more tailored conversation about your organization and how we might partner together. To continue the dialogue, you have two options:

If you recognize one of the FMSI partner agencies featured on the following page, we encourage you to reach out to your local team and ask about our Public Entity Specialty Group. They can coordinate directly with us to arrange a meeting.
If you prefer to connect with us directly, you may schedule an introductory call using our scheduler here: Public Entity Specialty Group Scheduler.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to connecting with you and your team in the year ahead.

To learn more contact: