Niagara County has a sister county up in St Clair County, Port Huron, Michigan, dedicated to homeland security and emergency management.This is a fine sister.She can walk and chew gum at the same time. St. Clair's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management can communicate with County citizens the 7 Signs of Terrorism and still give the Weather Report on what natural disturbances may be in store for Port Huron on any given day.

St Clair's mission is to provide for the safety of County residences and visitors along with its neighboring communities. This is accomplished through a multi-hazard planning process that involves mitigation, preparation, response and recovery combined with a strong working relationship with all levels of government and the private sector. Our sister is committed to providing a quality service to those people with a continuous goal of improving those services. Our sister is authorized through federal, state, and local legislation to provide an emergency plan for the county and communities. This plan is a multi-hazard plan that addresses natural, technological and terrorism incidents. Emergency planning involves people from all agencies and at every level of government in St Clair County. County Officials and local leaders are required to act in the most prudent and efficient manner when called upon during emergency events. Coordinated events during past emergency situations have reduced the loss of life, property damage and the disruption of St Clair citizens' daily lives.

Our sister is prepared to deal with terrorist incidents and constantly communicates with County residents and visitors to:

• Be alert and aware of the surrounding area. The very nature of terrorism suggests that there may be little or no warning.
• Take precautions when traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers. Do not leave luggage unattended.
• Learn where emergency exits are located.
• Think ahead about how to evacuate a building, subway, or congested public area in a hurry. Learn where staircases are located.

Our sister reaches out to make sure St Clair residents understand that knowing what to do is the residents' best protection. Residents must be prepared to cope with an emergency for up to 72 hours until help arrives. Disasters can happen anywhere at anytime. Residents must prepare in advance for a disaster. Residents must plan ahead by having a Disaster Plan ready and having a Disaster supply kit available to them whether they undergo an evacuation or are confined to their home for a period of time.

Niagara County should just do it like "Sis"!

See http://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/emerg_mngmt/.