Pacific NW Terrorism Workshop
Thinking the Unthinkable...And Doing Something About It
Release Date: June 28, 2001
Release Number: R10-01-36
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From left to right, Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services' Pat Frischmuth, Oregon Emergency Management's David Cassell, Alaska Division of Emergency Services Director David Liebersbach and Washington Emergency Management Division Director Glen Woodbury field questions on state needs and expectations on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. |
Seattle, WA -- Over one hundred federal, state and local emergency managers and planners met at the Radisson Hotel in Seatac for two days of case studies, information sharing and strategy review. Topics ranged from netwar and cyberterrorism to tabletop exercises and threat assessments, and presenters included emergency managers from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, the FBI, FEMA and private sector consultants. According to FEMA Acting Regional Director Tammy Doherty, while constituent agencies meet frequently on integral response elements, this was the most comprehensive gathering to date.
"It's important to bring key players together under the same roof to work out responsibilities, resource requirements and turf issues," said Doherty. "Domestic and international terrorists seek out weak targets, and solid pre-disaster coordination and planning in and of itself may dissuade would-be attackers. If terrorist attacks are carried out, coordinated pre-disaster training can minimize trauma to innocent victims and speed the recovery process."
FEMA Acting Deputy Director John Magaw agrees. "On May 8, 2001, President Bush announced the need to have a national coordinated plan to deal with the consequences of weapons of mass destruction. The President asked FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh to create an Office of National Preparedness that would implement the coordination and facilitation of the national plan," said Magaw. "The Office of National Preparedness will open with a skeleton crew on Monday, July 2, 2001, located at FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C. Target staffing ranges from 55-65 and includes personnel from 27 federal agencies, the American Red Cross and representation from state and local governments."
Listen as Tammy Doherty, discusses the recent terrorism workshop in Seattle and the Office of National Preparedness. (.wav ~6 MB) or you may read the transcript (Word).
Last Modified: Friday, 24-Oct-2003 11:04:05