Ready, Set, Secure
HOW TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST EMERGING THREATS THIS FALL
BY LEAH COHEN
After a distinguished career in the Marine Corps and intelligence roles at the White House and Pentagon, David Perez retired from public service and founded OMEGA International Group Inc. From hotels to professional athletes to individuals, Perez and his team at the private security firm have been protecting the people of Beverly Hills for nearly 20 years. OMEGA works with individual clients and corporations to help them best mitigate any security risks they may face. With political tensions rising across the country as the Presidential election approaches and weather patterns become more uncertain every day, Perez has provided readers with advice on how to prepare for instances of civil unrest and natural emergencies.
What do you foresee as the biggest threats to the safety of Americans with the approaching election and how do you suggest Americans protect themselves?
This election year in particular, emotions are running high, so the threat of civil unrest in major cities is a strong possibility. In addition, with several armed conflicts happening overseas, the State Department and the Director of the FBI have warned of a threat of a terrorist attack directed towards Americans and American assets here in the U.S. and overseas. It's always recommended to stay vigilant and always be aware of your surroundings when in a public space. You should have a plan in place if you must immediately evacuate an area. And of course, if you're somewhere in the public space and you see something or someone that seems odd or out of place for the environment you're in, report it immediately to security or law enforcement personnel.
What are the key components of an emergency preparedness plan for both businesses and individuals?
An emergency prevention plan has five phases: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. That's going to be similar in your personal life and business. For the business side, develop a strategy to maintain critical business functions during and after an emergency - most people don't think about that. What are common mistakes you see people make when developing an emergency plan and how can they be avoided? The number one is complacency. Everybody believes it'll never happen to them, so they do nothing. Prepare as if it will happen. If you plan and prepare, you'll be better off.
Are there any specific technology or tools you recommend for emergency preparedness?
We highly recommend subscribing to your city’s local emergency alert systems for real-time updates. We also recommend having a handheld battery radio that doesn't rely on electricity so you can hear local news and updates on current events that are happening within the crisis. Additionally, we recommend purchasing large power bank batteries. During an extended power outage, you’re going to eventually need a battery source to recharge your devices and to maintain yourself for a few days.
Any final advice?
Be prepared and have a plan. Emergencies strike at any time - they could be man-made or natural. It could be a massive earthquake we could have in the next couple days. What do you do then? Did you prepare? Did you have all these things in place beforehand? Especially nowadays you’ve got to have some type of plan for your business and for your personal life. It'll reduce stress and it'll reduce confusion and chaos.