Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens Publicly Welcomes Home Employees Deployed to Louisiana

Annapolis, MD (October 3, 2005) - Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens publicly acknowledged the contributions of those deployed to Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina during a Press Conference today. A total of 19 Personnel were deployed in 6 units. Included with the Fire Department personnel were four representatives from ARINC, one employee from Wilmers Communications and three from Central Services. " I am so proud of these men and women, who left their own families to help other families during a time of crisis," said Ms. Owens.

According to Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell, The Crew and support staff accomplished the following during the Mobile Command and Communications Unit deployment to Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

• Developed a communication plan, enabling people and units who were operating on different frequencies to talk to each other
• Developed and maintained communications with the Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Office of Emergency Management, Maryland National Guard and the Advanced Life Support Unit that was assigned to Operation Lifeline at Meadowcrest Hospital
• Developed and maintained the only communication link from Louisiana to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency in Maryland for Command and Control of the operation
• Assisted MIEMSS (Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Service System) with opening and operating the area medical facilities
• Maintained satellite communication 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with MEMA and FEMA and with the Anne Arundel County Emergency Operation Center
• Provided power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to the Meadowcrest Hospital and the other medical unit during the operation
• Provided mapping for the medical units and for the Jefferson parish Office of Emergency Management

"The team is trained for these types of emergencies, and with the help of the Mobile Command and Communications Unit, they were able to accomplish their mission," said Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell.

County Executive Owens also took time to remind everyone, that hurricane season goes through November, and urged everyone to have an emergency kit on hand, and keep it updated.