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June 1, 2008
3rd WEST VIRGINIA HOMELAND SECURITY SUMMIT KICKS OFF IN MORGANTOWN
~State Leaders, First Responders and Experts Meet to Strengthen West Virginia's Homeland Security~
Morgantown, W.Va. - With nearly 300 participants expected to attend, Senator Jay Rockefeller today is kicking off the 3rd West Virginia Summit on Homeland Security in Morgantown. The two-day summit - hosted by Rockefeller, West Virginia University, the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, and the Discover the REAL West Virginia Foundation - will welcome first responders, school officials, scientists, health experts, private sector security experts, and government officials from the Mountain State and beyond.
"When we hosted the previous two homeland security summits, our nation was still reeling from the attacks of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina," Rockefeller said. "This year, thankfully, we're not looking at homeland security on the heels of a disaster. However, we are focusing on it just before a major shift in the federal government - the transition from one administration to another. That makes this an enormously important time to keep homeland security in the forefront of our minds, and at the top of our priority list."
Sunday's activities begin near the WVU football stadium with a number of outdoor demonstrations by West Virginia companies and agencies on cutting-edge products, equipment and processes related to homeland security. In addition to stationary presentations such as communications trailers, the National Guard is set to demonstrate a "rubble pile," simulating a disaster rescue; and the State Police will be exhibiting its bomb robot and simulating a SWAT team raid.
Later in the evening, and following a workshop on federal firefighter grants, Rockefeller will be introducing former U.S. Senator from Florida, Bob Graham, who will deliver keynote remarks at the Waterfront Place Hotel. Senator Graham is the former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the position which Rockefeller now holds, and is recognized nationally as a leader on homeland security.
The Summit continues throughout the day on Monday at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center with opening remarks from Rockefeller, and panel discussions on key homeland security efforts. During breakout sessions, participants will focus on public health; school emergency management; cyber-security and privacy of electronic data; infrastructure security and private sector preparedness; communications challenges; economic development and the state's homeland security assets; and, doing business with government agencies.
The summit's featured speaker on Monday will be Stephen Flynn, a preeminent expert on homeland security and national leader on the subject. Flynn currently works as Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, teaches at Stanford University, and previously worked at the National Security Council.
"We are very fortunate this year to have two renowned and expert speakers, as well as a terrific group of participants and panelists," Rockefeller said. "Together, we'll talk about how to make homeland security more efficient and resourceful - so we can respond to both national threats and homeland disasters, while also keeping our schools safe, protecting our industries and infrastructure, and supporting our first responders.
"I'm confident that we'll leave here with a stronger understanding of what we need to keep our country, our state, and our people safe."
Rockefeller held the first West Virginia Homeland Security Summit in Shepherdstown, W.Va. in November 2003, and the second at Stonewall Jackson Lake in March 2006. At previous summits, participants have tackled issues like interoperable communications, industry preparedness, improving public health response, and statewide disaster planning. Progress has since been made in the state with a new operational statewide communications network; improved planning among agencies and neighboring states; and, a strengthened network of public health facilities ready for response.
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