Lecture luncheon focuses on emergency preparedness

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News Jeff Hawke, Director of Public Safety for Cadillac, reminded guests at the recent Chamber of Commerce/Baker College luncheon lecture, to be prepared for the unexpected and plan for emergency situations.

CADILLAC - Diana Holik never dreamt that a fire would damage her Quick-N-Fit for Women business.

“I'm sure it crosses everyone's mind a little bit,” she said. “But I never thought it would happen.”

The unexpected fire that broke out last week in downtown Cadillac is something that Jeff Hawke, Cadillac's Public Safety director, wants everyone to think about and plan for.

In fact, he listed fire as the No. 1 “unexpected” threat to a business or organization. He listed four other unexpected threats that should be considered: workplace violence, technology hardware theft/cyber attack, natural disaster and flu pandemic.

In a 45-minute lecture to a luncheon crowd at Baker College, he called upon citizens to make a plan for the unexpected.

“My goal,” Hawke said, “is to provide information to help you achieve a higher level of emergency preparedness . . . to return to normal with the least possible loss of life, injury, property and environmental damage, employee and customer emotional trauma and loss of business.”

“Fire dangers are underestimated by organizations,” he said. “Additional protective measures are advisable.”

Regarding workplace violence, he said that one of the best things to do is to have a workplace violence policy, including zero tolerance and a procedure for reporting and investigating.

The loss or theft of computer data, he pointed out, could be catastrophic, adding that employee personal information must be guarded. He stressed that the server room should be protected and a full back up of information technology is a must.

In the case of a natural disaster, people must know where there is shelter and a safe place.

But regarding the case of flu pandemic, Hawke said it's “a prevalent possibility. We've had three pandemics in the last century. Experts say we are due one every 30 to 50 years.”

He pointed out that the Wexford County Emergency Management team underwent training in 2005 and held a mass clinic for vaccine distribution in the case of a pandemic.

“Plan early and often,” he concluded. “Update and revise. Train employees and communicate the plan. Assign a core team but get everyone involved.”

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Jeff Hawke, Director of Public Safety for Cadillac, outlined the five biggest threats that face our community in a lecture luncheon held Friday at Baker College. He listed them as:

€ Natural disaster like a blizzard or tornado; School violence; Hazardous materials spill or leak; Power failure; Flu pandemic

He listed the top five threats to a business or organization as:

€ Fire; Workplace violence; Internet hardware theft or a cyber attack; Natural disaster; Flu pandemic

During his 45 minute lecture and slide presentation, Hawke outlined ways to reach a higher level of emergency preparedness.