Some PR firms in New York relying on temporary offices

Employees of Edelman PR, for example, gathered at workspaces in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Westchester, N.Y., where they could work or simply connect with family. The Edelman office is located in lower Manhattan, where on Thursday afternoon power remained out.

Russell Dubner, the head of Edelman New York, said the company reached this decision after sending a quick survey to its employees.

“First and foremost, we were concerned with making sure people were safe and that everyone was being attended to,” he said. “Then, we swiftly changed gears to make sure we’re connected and helping [our employees] stay connected.”

With the help of its Washington, D.C., office, Edelman staff created a private Facebook page where its employees could interact. About 315 of its 680 staffers signed up, according to Dubner. He said there’s a lot of cheerleading on the page, as well as employees opening their homes to share power and home-cooked meals.

“Frankly, I’m impressed with the ingenuity of our employees,” Dubner said.

Edelman plans to return to its main office on Monday, although that is dependent on whether electricity is restored.