FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
                (941) 335-2777

 

LEE OFFICIALS MEET TO DISCUSS CRISIS RESPONSE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 1, 2001) – Representatives of several Lee County agencies met today to discuss policies and procedures in place to respond locally to acts of terrorism.

The precautionary meeting was called by Doug St. Cerny, chairman of the Board of Lee County Commissioners, to ensure emergency response agencies continue to communicate and coordinate their safety efforts, and to review policies on terrorism and crisis response. Attendees included Sheriff Rod Shoap and representatives of the Lee County Health Department, Mosquito Control, the Port Authority, County Administration, the Division of Public Safety and the Utilities Division.

Some of the things that have been put in place locally since the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C. and in Pennsylvania:

  1. All of the county’s water plants are "locked down" with restricted access. Field monitoring of facilities and equipment also has been increased.
  2. Mosquito Control is notifying state and local officials, including the Sheriff’s Office, of the location of spraying prior to its flights.
  3. Security has been increased at Mosquito Control and Southwest Florida International Airport.
  4. Lee County Emergency Management has reviewed its command and control structure for response to a terrorist act.

In January, area emergency response agencies conducted a training exercise in Centennial Park to simulate what would happen if a terrorism/hazardous materials event were to occur locally. The agencies practiced Incident Command, Hazardous Materials Response and Decontamination, Emergency Treatment and Transport, Disaster Medical Assistance, and Public Information Dissemination through a Joint Information Center.

In addition, Lee County’s Public Safety Division, through a $50,000 state grant last year, also developed a Terrorism Response Plan that addresses the roles, responsibilities, protocols, and mutual aid of all appropriate agencies in the event of a terrorist incident.

The agencies will continue to coordinate and communicate their plans and efforts.