Homeland Security Deputy Samer Jaafar accepts an award presented to him by Wayne County Commissioner Diane Webb.

DEARBORN — Samer Jaafar, the deputy director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) at Wayne County, said he is honored and humbled for the opportunity to work with new Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

“I’m excited to be working with Warren Evans,” Jaafar told The Arab American News. “From day one, he has been leading by example. He hit the ground running and is already working to bring out the best results for the county.”

Jaafar, a Wayne County resident, has held the position with HSEM for five years. As the deputy director, he and staff will continue working closely with local law enforcement agencies to prepare effective response and recovery for any disaster that may occur in Wayne County.

Jaafar indicated that he, the director and staff work closely together and have been successful in response and recovery efforts in all incidents the department has addressed. 

In previous years, HSEM had led some extraordinary efforts in assisting communities in dire need of aid during emergencies.

Last November, Jaafar was awarded by the Wayne County Commission for the department’s prompt response and assistance following the August 11 rainstorm and subsequent floods that impacted more than a dozen cities.

Commissioner Diane Webb recognized Jaafar’s leadership and the efforts of the department with a resolution of thanks for responding to an emergency situation in the southend of Dearborn Heights and near the Ecorse creek.

The aftermath of the rainstorm had required some residents there to be evacuated by boat. HSEM was also able to set up multi agency resource centers, which included assistance from the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

HSEM provided families with sanitation supplies, which included bleach and soap to kill growing bacteria.  More notably, the department issued a declaration of disaster to Governor Snyder, which initiated the assistance of FEMA and granted more than $200 million in aid with the assistance of the county.

Jaafar and HSEM staff are constantly responding to emergency situations.

“The credit for our response to the August flooding goes to the dedication and hard work of our entire staff and the agencies that collaborated with our county to get effective results,” Jaafar said. “Our priority was not only to make sure residents were safe, but to ensure that all residents had adequate drinking water and food supply.” 

HSEM is constantly collaborating with police and fire departments on a local, state and federal level.  Training is a big component of the department’s work for response and recovery purposes.

An example of that would be when the department trained over 100 sheriff reserve volunteers through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) with the Wayne County Sherriff’s Department.  

Homeland Security’s work and assistance went beyond just the August flooding. Less than a month later, Jaafar responded to a dangerous situation in Dearborn Heights’ north side when a tent at the St. Linus Catholic Church festival collapsed following a severe storm. Two people were injured as a result of the incident, but emergency responders were able to navigate and assist residents to safety on site.

Jaafar provided generators to the church after it experienced a power outage, which allowed the festivities to continue in the following days. Following that incident, Homeland Security received awards and recognition from both the church and Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko.

In the last two years, Homeland Security has responded to more than 50 emergency incidents, including a situation in Downriver involving a fuel leak, and responding to a fire emergency at a burning building in Westland, where firefighters had required additional assistance after one of their men had been killed in the rubble.

“It has always been an honor to be able to go into situations and help people,” Jaafar said. “It makes you feel good about what you are doing. Day in and day out, we are always preparing to respond and recover to all emergencies as well as prevent and protect our homeland from terrorism. Every single time those involved have appreciated the training and networks we built with the local municipalities.”

When the department is not responding to an emergency situation, it is busy conducting training sessions with law enforcement agencies and residents designed to increase their basic emergency preparedness skills. The department also has an Emergency Operative Center used to manage and coordinate emergency situations. 

With shootings at schools becoming more frequent on a national level, HSEM coordinated an active shooter mock exercise to implement proper protocol with local municipalities.

The department also conducts disaster response training drills and exercises designed to respond and recover to any natural disaster or man made emergency, including terrorism.

Another major responsibility under the department is Radiological Emergency Preparedness (R.E.P), in case of a radiological release at local power plants. 

Homeland Security has proven successful in recent years when it was evaluated by both FEMA and the nuclear regulatory commission.

“We are constantly working with local, state and federal authorities to meet safety mandates. It’s always a team effort and preparedness is paramount to response and recovery,” Jaafar added.

Jaafar added that HSEM has set a precedent for police and fire departments in Wayne County to work together in overcoming disasters. 

“It’s gratifying to be able to reach out and really make a difference,” Jaafar said. “I’m honored to be exhibiting dedication and love for this country as an American citizen and I hope to influence youth in our community to look at careers in Emergency Response.”

For more information on Wayne County’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department, visit //www.waynecounty.com/hsem/.