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�oantp o! <br /> r� <br /> SARm IACOSS CHAIR ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> STEPHEN IIALRI07`15 VICE CHAIR <br /> MARc,ArE- W.BrowN POST OFFICE BOX$18 1 )7 u <br /> MOSES CIREY JR 200 SOUTH CAMERON STREET <br /> AUCEAI GOROON 9a <br /> HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 2727$ ry � <br /> �rIJ �0.YO��d <br /> April 5, 2002 <br /> Subject: Your Attendance Requested: Regional Planning for Terrorism <br /> Dear Public, Private and Institutional Officials: <br /> On behalf of the Orange and Chatham County Boards of Commissioners, you are invited to a <br /> conference to address emergency planning and other,aspects of risks related to possible terrorism <br /> in the Triangle area. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m, on May 2 at the William Friday <br /> Center in Chapel Hill. <br /> Since September 11, there have been broad efforts across the nation to rethink security and <br /> planning strategies for emergencies caused by terrorism, A number of discussions between local <br /> emergency management officials in the Triangle have identified serious shortcomings in the <br /> present capacity to manage a regional emergency stemming from a nuclear, biological or <br /> chemical attack, or an attack on the Shearon Harris nuclear power facility. The May 2 <br /> conference represents the initiation of a systematic regional approach to improving emergency <br /> planning in the event of a terrorist attack, and to identify opportunities to minimize or eliminate <br /> risks wherever possible. <br /> Orange and Chatham County officials believe that initially focusing on an event with the largest <br /> potential impact—an atmospheric release of radioactive material from the Harris facility—will <br /> facilitate the process of adapting regional strategies for multi-hazard emergencies with the <br /> greatest potential for the loss of life and property. The conference will feature regional <br /> emergency response officials and nationally prominent experts in the field of nuclear risks. <br /> The importance of addressing regional risks and emergency planning was heightened by FBI <br /> warnings in January that terrorists might be planning to attack U.S., nuclear plants. Also, on <br /> March 12 it was revealed that federal officials knew in 1995, but did not notify the U.S. Nuclear <br /> Regulatory Commission, that al-Qaeda operatives were threatening nuclear plants. <br /> In addition to state and local elected officials and emergency management personnel, the <br /> conference will call together others in related fields, including medical, public health, human <br /> services, and transportation. In addition, other stakeholders, such as leaders of educational <br /> institutions, will be invited to participate, as will officials from Carolina Power&Light,which <br /> operates the Harris nuclear plant, located on the southern edge of the Triangle. The conference is <br /> being held in the evening so that the general public will be able to participate. <br /> WWW.CO.ORANGE.NC.US <br /> PROTECTING AND PRESERVING- PEOPLE, RESOURCES, QUALITY OF LIFE <br /> ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA - YOU COUNTI <br /> (9 19) 245-2130 • FAX (919) 644.0246 <br />