Macomb County Stresses Being 'Super Prepared' For A Crisis
HARRISON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - Being super-prepared: That was the focus of a one-day Macomb County Chamber of Commerce crisis management conference at Lake St. Clair Metropark.
This event marked the first time emergency response teams from throughout the county gathered to exhibit the specialized equipment they use when answering calls for help.
Ten teams from SWAT and K-9 to HAZMAT, Dive and Technical Rescue were on site at Wednesday's event.
There, Macomb County Emergency Management Program Coordinator Dave McIntyre was asked if Macomb is prepared to handle a crisis like last weekend's Nairobi, Kenya mall attack.
"I think that our law enforcement agencies, with active shooters and the SWAT teams we see out here, they're much more prepared than what they have been," McIntyre told WWJ's Pat Sweeting. "It's really incumbant upon our citizens to become educated about what to do [in an emergency].
McIntyre said, if you see something suspicious, say something.
Chamber CEO Grace Shore said they encourage county businesses to formulate a plan of action before disaster strikes.
"Think through what you do on a daily basis," Shore said. And what if your computer system failed? How would you make some key contacts? Do you have important phone numbers somewhere else that you can utilize?
"Train your staff in how to do some simple first aid techniques," she said, adding that businesses should back up crucial computer files off-site and have an evacuation plan.
"We read headlines every day about terrible situations that businesses go through — from fires to workplace violence to computer security breaches," said Shore. "While we can't predict what will happen, we can and should do our best to be prepared. Having a plan in place with the ability to respond quickly could mean the difference between business survival and failure."
