Disaster planning in South Bend
Leafy South Bend is not as exposed to natural diasters as, say New Orleans or towns on the Mississippi River’s flood planes, but business in the city join hands to form a preparedness strategy nontheless
So may be South Bend, Indiana, is not as exposed to natural disasters as New Orleans or cities on the Mississippi River’s flood plane (the performance of the Notre Dame football team so far this season should qualify as man-made disaster; note that junior Evan Sharpley will start at quarterback for Notre Dame against No. 13 Southern Cal Saturday, replacing the banged-up freshman Jimmy Clausen, who has been starting, and who has been sacked twenty-three times in seven games). In South Bend they worry about a massive ice storm that knocks out power throughout the region, or a repeat of the Palm Sunday tornadoes which ravaged Elkhart County in 1965 or a repeat of the 1978 blizzard? Still, the city leaders believe the leafy college town must be prepared. That realization led to the creation of a local organization called the Business Continuity Group several months ago. The South Bend Tribune’s Ed Semmler writes that working closely with the St. Joseph County Emergency Management Agency, its purpose is to ensure the sustainability of the community following a disaster. “People need to recognize the importance of preparing,” says Larry Schumacher, general manager of the Mishawaka Wal-Mart and cochairman of the organization. Such planning is not only the responsibility of the government. Everyone — including families — should have a plan. Businesses must get on board, too.
“If businesses don’t survive, the community won’t survive, he says. “The evidence of that is overwhelming.”
Tomorrow, the Business Continuity Group in conjunction with the St. Joseph County Emergency Management Agency will hold a Disaster Preparedness Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Penn Township Fire Department and Training Center at the corner of Elm and Jackson roads, south of Mishawaka. There will be an opportunity to meet emergency personnel, learn what resources and equipment are available and listen to some discussions about emergency planning. It is important to ensure that every business is up and running as quickly as possible following any disaster, Schumacher says. The paychecks that companies provide are the lifeblood of the community, and a prepared business also has the wherewithal to provide support to the rest of the community when its own house is in order.
For more information, and perhaps on ideas how to something simliar in your community, check out St. Joseph County Emergency Management Agency’s Web site.
