45°
The March 6 explosion displaced more than 60 animals — many of them fish, dogs and cats who were already sick or injured — and 100 or so employees, Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg said (SEE: PHOTOS: MRI explosion at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus leaves one worker critical, 2 others hospitalized).
The owners and staff at Home & Kidz immediately offered shelter to all of them, and kept them there until permanent shelter was arranged — an act of generosity that “prevented needless suffering,” Ehrenberg said.
OEM Director Guy Picone and Emergency Planner Steve Mehl reminded business owners to develop emergency preparedness programs prior to a disaster.
Those plans “should include a written agreement with neighboring business for short-term accommodations in the event that their business suffers some type of emergency, such as a fire or natural disaster,” Picone said.
Their program, he said, should also:
• Identify critical business systems;
• Create an emergency communications plan;
• Build a disaster preparedness kit
The Paramus OEM offers guidance to local businesses in creating their plans: (201) 262-3400, ext 573.
PHOTO, TOP (l. to r.): Paramus OEM Director Guy Picone; Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg; Emergency Planner Steve Mehl; Home & Kidz President John Park; Home & Kidz CFO Carolina Park; Home & Kidz Vice-President Walter Joshi.
FILE PHOTO: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Senior Correspondent Boyd A. Loving
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