Inaugural All Hazards Forum Draws State and Local Safety Executives from Eight States

Attendees and exhibitors at the inaugural Mid-Atlantic All Hazards Forum, held December 1 and 2 at the Baltimore Convention Center, report the conference a success. A first-of-its-kind opportunity for state and local safety officials to meet, network, and share information, The All Hazards Forum had hundreds of attendees from eight states.

"The All Hazards Forum gave homeland security and emergency management professionals from neighboring states in the mid-Atlantic an unprecedented opportunity to share information," said Dennis R. Schrader, Director of the Maryland Office of Homeland Security. "We will be able to do our jobs better as a result of this conference."

A highlight of the two-day conference was a speech by Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. on Wednesday. While thanking attendees for their continuing dedication to the safety of citizens in the mid-Atlantic, Governor Ehrlich also expressed the need for continued vigilance and growth in the area of homeland security. He cited homeland security as a key element in the public safety pillar of the five pillars of his administration.

At the 2004 All Hazards Forum attendees, both public and private homeland security officials were able to network; establish regional public-private sector partnerships that bridge multi-jurisdictional boundaries and integrate existing resources, share information, conduct policy education, and conduct training and development of common procedures and protocols; discuss industry needs, best-practices and challenges; as well as research and observe the latest technology and solutions to promote communication and coordination throughout the region.

Other highlights of the conference included the business matching program, a networking forum for conference attendees and exhibitors, thousands of square feet of exhibit space that included displays of state-of-the-art technology currently in use by first-responders, and demonstrations of various communication and security solutions by vendors like Sun MicroSystems, ARINC, Inc., Motorola, Verizon, NEC, and Nextel, and Nortel Network.

Plans for a second annual conference for Mid-Atlantic All Hazards Forum are already in the works. While many considered this year's conference was a success, the next conference is expected to expand both in content and attendance. "There is a wealth of information we need to harness to continue on this path of growth," said Schrader.