Press Release

Former FEMA Chief to Headline Oakland Homeland Security Conference

Pontiac, MI, May 24, 2006 - Michael Brown, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will be the keynote speaker at the Oakland County Homeland Security Conference on Wednesday, June 7, 2006.

More than 370 people have registered to attend the daylong event which will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Oakland Schools Professional Development Center, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford.

"The Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness Homeland Security Conference is designed to bring local, state and county elected officials as well as the leadership of all eleven first responder disciplines together to present a comprehensive overview of what is being done to ensure the safety of Oakland County citizens," said Mike Sturm, manager of Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness. "We are extremely proud of the many important accomplishments which have made Oakland County an even safer and disaster-ready community."

The conference will feature detailed presentations from personnel representing Emergency Response and Preparedness, HazMat Mutual Aid response teams, the Oakland County Health Division and Oakland County Communications.  In addition, an outdoor static display will showcase Oakland County HazMat vehicles, U.S. Army Satellite Communication Trucks, Oakland County Health Division's Radiological Response Vehicle, ERP's 40 Mass Decontamination Trailer and Vehicle, a mass decontamination tent, Oakland County Sheriff's Command Vehicle and many other vehicles and pieces of equipment that can be used in the event of an emergency.

Brown, the former FEMA Chief, will address the conference at 11:30 a.m.  He is expected to speak on the responsibility of local communities in a disaster as well as define FEMA' role in such events.

"This conference will underscore Oakland County's leadership role in planning for and response to any potential disaster, be it man-made or natural," said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.  "Since 9-11, Oakland County has invested in training our first responders, purchasing state-of-the-art equipment and developing comprehensive plans to safeguard our citizens in the event disaster strikes. I am extremely pleased with what has been achieved in a relatively short period of time."

Due to space restrictions, attendance at the conference is being limited to the Oakland County leadership and first responder community.  As of May 17th, registrations to the conference were closed off since room capacity has been reached.  No further applications / registrations to the conference are being accepted.

For information about the conference, please contact Mike Sturm, manager of Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness at (248) 452-9578.  For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer at (248) 858-1048.

###