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Homeland Security Summit Brings Together Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The states' governors and the mayor of the District of Columbia met to discuss regional anti-terrorism cooperation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Virginia Gov. Mark Warner met with Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening and District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams this week to create regional agreements on how to prepare for and respond to a terrorist emergency.

The governors and the mayor, working with the White House Office of Homeland Security, met at Ft. Lesley J. McNair for the National Capital Region Summit on Homeland Security.

"We have been working tirelessly with our federal partners and representatives from state and local agencies, encompassing the National Capital Region, to improve coordination in preparing for and responding to a terrorist incident," said Tom Ridge, Homeland Security Advisor.

"What we have learned - is that much more work must be done cooperatively with our neighbors, and in concert with the federal government, to be as prepared as we can be," said Gov. Warner, in a statement. "The Washington metropolitan area clearly remains a potential target. These commitments among us will set an example for the nation."

To solidify the cooperation, Gov. Warner, Mayor Williams, and Gov. Glendening have signed a joint statement outlining eight "Commitments to Action."

These commitments include:

- Working together to develop a coordinated process for decision-making for significant incidents or emergency situations in the region, including methods for coordinating between operational entities and senior decision-makers in local and state governments, the federal government and the private sector.

- State and city agencies will work with the U.S. attorneys for the judicial districts within the region and with the FBI to enhance coordination and information sharing through their respective Anti-Terrorism Task Forces and Joint Terrorism Task Forces.

- Working with the private sector to jointly identify and set protection priorities and guidelines for infrastructure assets and services in the region.

- Defining and developing a common set of emergency protective measures to protect the health and safety of the public in the event of a major emergency in the region, including standardized emergency protection guides, protocols, and procedures, public education on when to implement these measures and coordinated pharmaceutical distribution plans across jurisdictions.

- Using the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and pursuing resolution of existing responsibility, reimbursement and liability issues related to implementing mutual aid agreements in the region; exploring a mechanism to analyze existing agreements and the need for additional agreements; exploring agreements to support mutual-aid response between local governments across state boundaries; utilizing consistent and statutory authorization to facilitate participation of mutual-aid response between local governments across state boundaries; examining the development of mutual-aid agreements between federal agencies or institutions and communities; and exploring methodologies for enhancing private sector mutual aid support.

- Developing a virtual Joint Information System for the region during a response to a major emergency or disaster event. Officials said though co-location may not be possible, creating a process and protocols for operating as a "virtual" joint information center will achieve the goal of a coordinated voice for the public and the media. A regional policy about communicating risk and emergency protective measures to the public in the event of an attack will also be jointly developed, officials said.

- Utilizing mechanisms for regional cooperation in endorsing and implementing Citizen Corps programs within the National Capital Region.

- Coordinating plans for terrorism and security-related training exercises across the region that include all levels of government, schools and universities, health care institutions and other private and non-profit partners; set a calendar of exercises for the region to include one full-scale and one functional exercise per year, including multi-jurisdictional exercises of all forms; and using a consistent methodology to document and implement lessons learned from actual emergency events and exercises.

Where feasible, officials said, member jurisdictions will provide the opportunity for other regional partner agency employees and representatives to attend their training and participate in workshops.

Office of Gov. Mark Warner