HVBF Monthly Meeting - Facilities, Security, Transportation Roundtable
Wednesday, November 28, 2001, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Host:

Loyola College in Maryland

Attending:

Steve Antonsen, Colliars Pinkard
Emmanuel Ball, Dunbar Armored
Elwood Banister, Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company
Scott Barhight, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston L.L.P.
Clare Berrang, MacKenzie / ONCOR International
Joe Biglin, Breakaway Games
Judy Burns, Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of MD
Al Copp, Woodhall Wine Cellars
Gail Chrzan, CB Richard Ellis
Mark Deering, MacKenzie / ONCOR International
Yelena Diggs, Jones Lang LaSalle
Jan Albert-Elliott, Community College of Baltimore County
Susan Fine, PDP Group Inc
David Fritz, KLNB
Alan Grace, Insignia Miller
Gary Green, Becton Dickinson
Rick Heisey, PDP Group Inc
Rod Hemphill, Eastern Savings Bank
Jay Huff, Brooks-Huff Tire & Auto Center 
Dan Jagodzinski, Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of MD
Lt. Marty Lurz, Baltimore County Police Dept
Gerry McCloskey, ATG Advanced TelCom Group Inc 
Stephen Roth, B G & E
Randall Scott, S.H.A.
Rick Webb, Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union
Lynn White, Colliers Pinkard

Elwood Bannister, President of member Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company and former Baltimore County Fire Department Chief, introduced Lt. Richard Muth, Administrator of the Office of Emergency Preparedness/Fire Communications.

In a PowerPoint presentation titled “Response To Terrorism”, Lt. Muth defined terrorism and the forms it can take. Such acts are typically directed at highly visible targets such as public buildings. Devices used can take many forms but the most used devices are explosives. Chemical and biological devices are deadly but difficult to control and deliver. Attacks with these devices are treated as a Hazmat response with a crime element.

It is very comforting to know that the Baltimore County Fire Department is one of the best-trained terror response teams in the nation. Typically, they are called upon to train other agencies including the FBI, FEMA, and the U.S. military. These distinctions are the result of many years of specialized training. Training was expanded after the first attack on the World Trade Center and intensified after the Oklahoma City bombing.

Lt. Muth provides active leadership to the local Emergency Planning Commission which studies facilities, makes recommendations and assists businesses in preparedness.

Terror attacks are not alone as a source of public disaster. The weather is a formidable contributor to injury, death and destruction. Lt. Muth strongly recommends the purchase of a weather alert radio to provide immediate notification of a dangerous weather event.

A film on safe mail handling techniques followed a question and answer period.

Lt. Muth can be reached at rmuth@co.ba.md.us or 410-887-4590.

The next scheduled meeting of the Roundtable will be Wednesday, December 19 at the Graduate Center at Loyola College from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. This will be a year-end wrap up covering the latest on the Shawan Road Extension, a police crime update and an outdoor lighting initiative in Baltimore County. Please notify me at director@hvbf.org or 410-771-5560 if you plan to attend.