Nineteen years after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, one would think that the country’s local and state governments would have had crisis management plans and protocols in place to address the issues at hand today; calming fears, instilling calm and confidence.
However, instead of witnessing crisis management at its best by local and state government leaders, it’s been chaos management at levels that are frightening — to say the least.
They’ve created fear and panic which have been greatly exaggerated by the mainstream media for nothing other than political reasons — because they hate President Donald Trump.
In January 2018, late night comedian Bill Maher said "I’m hoping for a crashing economy so we can get rid of Trump."
Yesterday Matt McDermott, a Trump deranged democratic pollster and strategist posted a Twitter message inferring that the recent crash of the stock market, was the President’s fault.
Coincidence? I don’t think so.
One supposed physician clearly desping the president, actually tweeted that the mortality of the Coronavirus could top 62 million people, which is not only not realistic, but dreadfully irresponsible and does nothing but instills fear, panic, and confusion in the American public.
One of the most celebrated and respected physicians in the country, Dr. Drew Pinsky, went on what I believe is a very justified rant slamming the media, telling the American public to STOP listening to the journalists.
Listen to the president’s task force and listen to the CDC, but stop listening to journalists who know nothing, and who are making statements and inferences that do nothing but confuse the public, while inciting fear and panic.
As someone who was involved in dealing with West Nile Virus issues in New York City in 2000, overseeing the response, rescue, and recovery of the most substantial terrorist attack in world history, then dealt with Anthrax attacks, as well as the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 killing 260 people, I along with Mayor Rudy Giuliani have dealt with a crisis or two.
In watching the response today to this crisis, I applaud President Trump, Vice-President Pence and their team, but — I would urge local and state leaders to follow suit.
The president’s team has recommended avoiding gatherings of 50 or more.
Some states have lowered that number to 10.
In New Jersey, a county executive lowered that number to four.
These decisions must be made with common sense, taking into consideration the public threat, without destroying communities and creating panic. Local and state leaders must have better messaging… even if it takes three to four public pressers a day to get out accurate public announcements, diminishing and eliminating and diminishing rumors.
The bottom line is, this virus is dangerous, but it's not the end of the world.
We as a nation will get through this, but the American public must follow the recommendations of the president’s task force, and local and state leaders must take politics out of the equation.
Anti-Trump pundits and journalists must scale it back and act responsibly.
Real crisis management is how we are going to get through this, not chaos management.
Unfortunately, there are people out there doing their best to create as much chaos as possible.
It’s time for that to stop.
As New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik was in command of the NYPD on September 11, 2001, and responsible for the city’s response, rescue, recovery, and the investigative efforts of the most substantial terror attack in world history. His 35-year career has been recognized in more than 100 awards for meritorious and heroic service, including a presidential commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan, two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and an appointment as Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To read more of his reports — Click Here Now.
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