Showing off technological toys and recent homeland security initiatives Wednesday, Baltimore County officials said they?re confident they are prepared for a large-scale disaster.
Surrounded by flatscreen televisions, computers and storm maps in the county?s emergency communications center ? housed through a maze of hallways in the basement of the old courthouse in Towson ? County Executive Jim Smith touted the improvements he?s made since taking office and the county?s reputation as a national leader in homeland security.
“Baltimore County will not be caught unprepared,” he said. “This is serious business, and at every level and in every department, we are preparing.”
On the anniversary day of the Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people in 1995, Smith said he has tripled the county?s full-time emergency preparation staff to six and was the first to integrate public works, health and communications agencies with fire and police departments during planning.
Smith implemented periodic disaster drills, including one in Owings Mills? Metro Station three years ago that officials said revealed a serious communication gap among the regions? crews ? a national problem, according to Maryland Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ed McDonough.
“It?s an ongoing issue nationally, but it?s important that not only different fire departments use the same language, but police and fire departments use common terminology,” he said. “It gets tricky.”
McDonough said Baltimore County has the right staff, however, to make improvements. He said the county?s homeland security director, Richard Muth, was called in to help coordinate the statewide relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina. The county also sent crews to the World Trade Center in 2001 and to local neighborhoods after Tropical Storm Isabel hit Baltimore in 2003.
The county also boasts a high-tech mobile command center, swift water rescue boats and an armored vehicle ? which took 20 rounds during a stand off outside the home of Joseph Palczynski in 2002, officials said.
Decontamination vehicles and three new helicopters are on their way, Smith said, as the county “constantly updates” the department. Next, the county is organizing a campaign this summer to teach families how to create a 72-hour emergency kit.
Officials said most of the county?s equipment and preparations are used a few days out of the year, and, if they are lucky, none. But according to storm forecasters at a conference Tuesday, the East Coast should brace for at least one severe hurricane this season.
“It?s expensive, but when you need it, you need it,” said Lt. Mark Demski.
