[Scan-DC] Hurricane Exercise April 26

[Alan Henney]

-----Original Message-----
From: National Capital Region
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 4:49 PM
To: National Capital Region
Subject: Media Advisory: Hurricane Exercise April 26


National Capital Region

For immediate release: April 23, 2007

Contact:

Jo’Ellen Countee, District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency
Management Agency

Rick Abbruzze, Maryland Governor’s Communications Office

Bob Spieldenner, Virginia Department of Emergency Management

Merni Fitzgerald, Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs





National Capital Region Conducts

First Regional Hurricane Exercise on April 26

Media Can Observe at Locations Across the NCR



Facing forecasts for another fierce hurricane season, the National
Capital Region (NCR) is conducting a one-day, regional exercise on
Thursday, April 26. This is the first hurricane exercise that jointly
involves the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and the federal
government.



            Significantly, NCR officials invited FEMA to participate
in the exercise. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, area leaders want
to ensure coordination among local, state and federal agencies after a
crisis. Coordination with FEMA is especially important because of a
recent change to federal emergency plans. The agency will now be
responsible for directing the delivery of food, shelter and first aid
after a disaster.



The exercise will focus on response and recovery efforts 48 hours
after a hurricane. Local utilities and transit systems will take part
in the exercise, including Fairfax Water, Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority, PEPCO and the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission.



On the 26th, the media can observe the exercise from emergency
operations centers across the region. Contact the following
organizations directly to make arrangements to observe or for more
information:



District of Columbia, 10 – 10:45 a.m.
Unified Communications Center, 2720 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE
Darrell Darnell, director of the Homeland Security and Emergency
Management Agency, will be available for interviews.
Contact: Jo’Ellen Countee, District of Columbia Homeland Security and
Emergency Management Agency, 202-727-6161


State of Maryland, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Emergency Operations Center, 5401 Rue Saint Lo Drive, Reisterstown,
Md.
Contact: Ed McDonough, Maryland Emergency Management Agency,
410-517-3632, or Katie Leahan, 410-517-3633

Montgomery County, Md., 10 a.m. – noon
Public Safety Communications Center, 1300 Quince Orchard Blvd.,
Gaithersburg, Md.
Contact: Donna Biggler, Montgomery County Office of Public
Information, 240-777-6537


Prince George’s County, Md., 10 a.m. – noon
Emergency Operations Center, 6820 Webster Street, Landover Hills, Md.
Vernon Herron, director of the Office of Homeland Security, will be
available for interviews.
Contact: Royce Holloway, Prince George’s County Office of Homeland
Security, 301-883-3300


PEPCO, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Emergency Operations Center
Contact: Debbi Jarvis, PEPCO Corporate Communications, 202-872-3358


The forecast this year calls for a very active hurricane season,
according to two independent predictions by top researchers.
Scientists for Colorado State and Tropical Storm Risk, a London-based
consortium, are anticipating up to five major hurricanes, with a 50
percent chance for one to make landfall on the East Coast.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will issue
its hurricane forecast in late May.



NCR residents can learn how to prepare for hurricanes — and other
disasters — at www.makeaplan.org.



###



About the National Capital Region

The NCR encompasses the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and
Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church,
Manassas and Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax,
Loudoun, Prince William in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s
counties in Maryland, which include the municipalities of Bowie,
College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.