[Archived] Northern Virginia Deploys High-Level, Regional Hurricane Relief Team to New Orleans

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	September 13, 2005 PIO# 285-05/sjm	Steven J. Mason, Public Information Officer, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

Northern Virginia Deploys High-Level,
Regional Hurricane Relief Team to New Orleans
Senior managers from Alexandria, and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun
and Prince William counties to help with city management

Note to Media: The Northern Virginia Regional team will depart at approximately 5:30 p.m. from the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035.

Northern Va. – A 10-person team, representing five Northern Virginia jurisdictions, will deploy today to New Orleans as part of the region’s coordinated response to the area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Drawing from all levels of government – including a county executive, police chief, emergency managers and regional fire department leadership – the teams are comprised of senior staff from Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the city of Alexandria.

The team, responding to a request from the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), is being led by Prince William County Executive Craig Gerhart. A mobile convoy will depart from the Fairfax County Government Center at approximately 5:30 p.m. and deploy to the New Orleans Emergency Management Center.

The Northern Virginia regional approach

After Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, the region’s chief administrative officers – city and county managers – met during the Labor Day weekend to discuss how Northern Virginia could most effectively respond to a request for assistance.

“We quickly realized that the need in the Gulf Coast region would outstrip any single Northern Virginia jurisdiction’s ability to respond,” said team leader Gerhart. “Drawing from the region’s wealth of expertise, we have assembled a multi-jurisdictional, cross-disciplinary team of highly experienced emergency managers.”

“Our strength is our regional cooperation, and we do not take a parochial view when dealing with an emergency,” said Barbara A. Favola, chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. “In addition to assisting the victims of Katrina, this unique effort increases our regional ability to respond to a local disaster.”

The Northern Virginia team will replace emergency managers from North Carolina, who are returning home to prepare for the potential affects of Tropical Storm Ophelia, which is expected to make landfall in the Tar Heel State.

The team

Staff from the following jurisdictions is being deployed:

City of Alexandria
John Crawford, Police Captain

Arlington County
Ben Barksdale, Deputy Fire Chief
Randy Gray, Fire Battalion Chief
John Mausert Mooney, Division Director, Dept. of Environmental Services

Fairfax County
Bill MacKay, Deputy Coordinator, Office of Emergency Management
Mike Wood, Deputy Fire Chief

Loudoun County
Jack Brown, Assistant Chief, Fire-Rescue

Prince William County
Craig Gerhart, County Executive and team leader
Charlie Deane, Police Chief
Kevin McGee, Assistant Fire Chief

Background

Northern Virginia’s regional Incident Support Team was activated on Sept. 4 to begin planning a joint response to the region affected by Katrina, and to respond to requests for assistance. It will remain staffed for as long as the regional team is deployed. The Fairfax County Emergency Operations Center has served as the hub for planning and coordination, bringing together police, fire, emergency management, public health and other expertise.

Captain John Crawford, a 30-year veteran of the Alexandria Police Department, has served as the Department’s Public Information Officer for the past 11 years. He will serve in an information officer role with the team.

Be Ready. Make a Plan

Northern Virginia jurisdictions are also taking this opportunity to remind the public that September is National Preparedness Month. The region is participating in a National Capital Region campaign to raise residents’ emergency preparedness – “Be Ready. Make a Plan.” To find out more, please visit www.makeaplan.org.

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Northern Virginia is among the most diverse, highly educated and fiscally sound regions in the nation, representing 1.8 million people in 1,300 square miles. The Northern Virginia economy is outpacing the nation and the region is home to a myriad of successful corporations and non-profits organizations. The deployed team represents the five major local jurisdictions in Northern Virginia:

� City of Alexandria, www.alexandriava.gov
� Arlington County, www.arlingtonva.us
� Fairfax County, www.fairfaxcounty.gov
� Loudoun County, www.loudoun.gov
� Prince William County, www.pwcgov.or