April 29, 2003
MECKLENBURG COUNTY & UNCC TO HOST REGIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY CONFERENCE
Charlotte, NC - Bringing together emergency management leaders from fifteen counties in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region, Mecklenburg County and UNC Charlotte are hosting a "Regional Homeland Security Leadership Conference."
The conference will be held in UNCC's Barnhardt Student Activities Center on Thursday, May 1, 2003. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with introductory remarks at 9 a.m.
The conference will feature homeland security and emergency management experts from a fifteen county region, including Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina. UNC Charlotte offered to host the conference to promote the University's development of the Regional Center for Homeland Security and Major Disaster Management.
"Bioterrorism would require a regional response. A chemical release would require a regional response," says Dr. Wynn Mabry, Mecklenburg County's Homeland Security Director. "This conference is our largest effort at bringing together local and academic experts from around the region, as we prepare for the possible need for a large-scale, regional response."
Speakers at the conference include representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, UNCC, Medic, Mecklenburg County Health Department, and the N.C. Academy of Counter Terrorism.
PARKING NOTE: Any media wishing to cover the Regional Homeland Security Leadership Conference needs to make parking arrangements with the UNC Charlotte public relations office at 704-687-2262.
AGENDA
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductory Remarks
- Dr. Wynn Mabry - Mecklenburg County Homeland Security Director
- Chancellor James Woodward - UNC-Charlotte
- Tom Cox, Chairman Board of Commissioners Mecklenburg County
- Mr. Mike Cook - State Emergency Management Representative
9:30 a.m. The Nature of Terrorism
- Professor Cynthia Combs, Ph.D. - UNC-Charlotte Political Science Dept.
10:15 a.m.Coffee Break - 15 minutes
10:30 a.m. FBI Threat Awareness
- Chris Swecker, Special Agent in Charge-North Carolina Operations
11:15 a.m. Regional Counter Terrorism Training
- Professor Chris Merritt - North Carolina Academy of Counter Terrorism
- Ms. Susan DeCatsye - Central Piedmont Community College-Public Safety Training
12:00 NoonBuffet Lunch
- Mr. Kareem Murphy, Ferguson Group -Congressional Homeland Security Initiatives
12:30 a.m. Charlotte's ALERT Terrorism Response Team
- Dr. Tom Blackwell, Medical Director MEDIC
1:00 p.m. Metrolina Trauma Advisory Committee (RAC)
- Dr. Tom Blackwell, Medical Director MEDIC
1:30 p.m. Break - 10 Minutes
1:40 p.m. Regional Bioterrorism Programs
- Dr. Steve Keener, Medical Director - Mecklenburg County Dept. of Public Health
2:20 p.m. UNC-Charlotte Regional Center for Homeland Security and Major Disaster Management
- Professor Edd Hauser, Ph.D., UNC-Charlotte Director Transportation Policy Studies
3:00 p.m. Conference Questions/Discussions