Sometimes, best laid plans work.

The collaborative responses of Milwaukee's public and private sectors in the aftermath of this Wednesday's deadly explosion at Falk Corp. was nothing short of impressive. Very impressive.

Start with the public sector. You may have noticed the press conferences directed by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Just hours after the explosion and fire, which killed three people and injured 46 others, there was Barrett, calmly explaining how the city was responding to the emergency. He was accompanied by Police Chief Nannette Hegerty, Fire Chief William Wentlandt, Health Commissioner Bevan Baker and other city officials.

They were all over it, and they were in sync.

Their quick and efficient collaboration was no accident. Just months before, the city's department heads went through a dry run about how to respond to a city emergency. The drill was the brain child of Daniel Alexander, a former Milwaukee Police officer.

Barrett had used some of the city's federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security to create an emergency government coordinator. Barrett appointed Alexander to that position, and Alexander conducted the drill.

"At the time (of the drill), I was like, 'I gotta sit through this?'" said Barrett, rolling his eyes. "But, it really paid off this week."

In the event of any emergency in any part of the city, the department heads were instructed to meet at a previously agreed-upon location to coordinate the city's vital services. That's exactly what happened when the Falk explosion occurred.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee County government responded with buses to help transport workers and their families through the brutally cold temperatures.

In the private sector, Palermo Villa Inc., which recently moved into the Menomonee River Valley next door to the Falk plant, allowed rescue officials to establish a temporary command post at their factory immediately after the explosion.

"They sent food to the (rescue) people who were working. They were great," said Milwaukee Police Department spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz.

A little farther west down Canal Street, the Milwaukee Brewers allowed Miller Park to become a staging area for public officials and the media.

"The Brewers have been amazing. The businesses were really supportive of the police and the rescue efforts," Schwartz said.

Sometimes, the best laid plans of mice and men actually work.

Post a comment / write a review.

Recent blogs/briefs by Steve Jagler

The kids really are all right Wednesday November has been a terrible, terrible month for southeastern Wisconsin's economy. In ...

Obama rode a perfect storm into history Nov. 14, 2008 A barrage of irrepressible forces propelled Democrat Barack Obama's historic presidential ...

Drastic times call for drastic votes Oct. 20, 2008 A new national survey by George S. May International Company, a management consultant ...

Which presidential candidate has the best economic plan? Oct. 03, 2008 An overwhelming majority of American small-business owners believes that neither U.S. ...

Washington, we've got a problem Oct. 02, 2008 Do you ever get the sinking feeling that America's economic infrastructure is crumbling ...