Updates

Regional Homeland Security Forum Focuses on Up-to-the-Minute Threats and Solutions

Bethesda, Md. – In recent weeks, the major news stories are the growing conflict in the Middle East and the continuing war in Iraq.  What seem like conflicts in remote locations are actually top-of-mind concerns not only to world leaders, but to local officials and city managers across throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  The executive program committee of the Mid-Atlantic All Hazards Forum (AHF) is working to keep in step with the evolving trends in homeland security and emergency management.  “Our goal is to educate, expand and enhance the knowledge base of officials in the Mid-Atlantic who work to protect the safety of the citizens here,” said Chris Essid, Commonwealth Interoperability Coordinator, Virginia Governor's Office of Commonwealth Preparedness. The definition of homeland security is much broader than protection from terrorism; it is evolving into a myriad of issues currently on the public agenda.  The Department of Homeland Security is planning for floods and hurricanes, creating sound immigration policy and border security, transportation planning, interoperability, the use of public surveillance cameras, and the formulation of community emergency response teams. “The executive program committee is ready to respond to current events at home and abroad,” said John Contestabile, AHF Program Chair and Acting Assistant Secretary, Maryland Department of Transportation. “We work very hard to meet the attendees’ needs and we set forth in creating a forum each year that addresses the concerns of the people that own the problem.”  Already on the program for this year are discussions and workshops on topics such as: Emergency Response, Public Safety Communication, Information Sharing and Intelligence, Border and Transportation Security, Law Enforcement, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Health and Medical Readiness, and Grants.   The Mid-Atlantic All Hazards Forum, to be held October 10-12, 2006 at the Baltimore Convention Center is the only state-endorsed emergency management and homeland security forum dedicated to addressing these issues and ensuring the continued safety, preparedness and growth of the region. State and local leaders from Maryland, D.C., Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Delaware, and West Virginia meet each year at AHF to discuss best practices, lessons learned, new technologies and innovations in regional readiness, response and recovery.For more information about the AHF, go to www.allhazardsforum.com.Contact:Alicia MoranPhone: (703) 739-2424 x.110