INDUSTRY FOCUS

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.

Featured

  • Cloud Adoption Gives Way to Hybrid Deployments

    Cloud adoption is growing at an astonishing rate, with Gartner forecasting that worldwide public cloud end-user spending will approach $600 billion by the end of this year—an increase of more than 21% over 2022. McKinsey believes that number could eclipse $1 trillion by the end of the decade, further underscoring the industry’s exponential growth. Read Now

  • AI on the Edge

    Discussions about the merits (or misgivings) around AI (artificial intelligence) are everywhere. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find an article or product literature without mention of it in our industry. If you’re not using AI by now in some capacity, congratulations may be in order since most people are using it in some form daily even without realizing it. Read Now

  • Securing the Future

    In an increasingly turbulent world, chief security officers (CSOs) are facing a multitude of challenges that threaten the stability of businesses worldwide. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Security Entrances Move to Center Stage

    Most organizations want to show a friendly face to the public. In today’s world, however, the need to keep people safe and secure has become a prime directive when designing and building facilities of all kinds. Fortunately, there is no need to construct a fortress-like entry that provides that high level of security. Today’s secured entry solutions make it possible to create a welcoming, attractive look and feel at the entry without compromising security. It is for this reason that security entrances have moved to the mainstream. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation. 3

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3