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Stand Your Ground

A part of Paradise resembles a war-torn landscape as fire has ravaged Maui, in particular Lahaina. The devastation brings stories of harrowing escape, individual fortitude and neighbor helping neighbor survive. Residents and government officials are assessing the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Early reporting indicated that 96 people have died, and the search continues for scores of the unaccounted.

While my thoughts are mildly centered on the security industry at large, a press release from Allied Universal brought things into a personal perspective. Steve Jones, Allied Universal global CEO said the company had lost one of their own, several others are unaccounted for. The hope is that as cell service is restored, other security staff can report.

Families, businesses and company executives are reeling from the loss of life, daily sustenance and support, and I think what Jones shared with the security world pretty much says it all. Take a moment and read, and then let’s pitch in and help.

“Like people around the world, I watched in shock as the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history devasted Maui last week. I worried about the safety of our (approximately 200) valued team members, our customers and the community.

My worries were realized. The Allied Universal team lost a security professional in the fire. Several others remain unaccounted for.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the Allied Universal security professional whose life was lost in the fire near Lahaina. And we remain hopeful that those who are unaccounted for are safe and will be located soon.

We’ve opened our Maui office as shelter to employees who lost their homes or are unable to access them. We are working to get much-needed supplies, grief counseling and additional support to our team members and others.

We continue serving our clients on Maui where it is safe to do so, including Kahului Airport. I commend our team members who lost loved ones and their homes but continue working to ensure the safety of people and property.

Allied Universal’s top priority is safety – the safety of our team members and the communities we serve. Our thoughts go out to the victims, the survivors, their loved ones, the 29 customers we serve on Maui, the island’s community and the entire state of Hawaii.”

This article originally appeared in the September / October 2023 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.

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