Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530,
Pete Piringer, 240-777-2474 or Lucille Baur, 240-773-5034
For Immediate Release: October 16, 2001

Duncan Unveils Plan to Upgrade County’s
Emergency Response Capability and Improve Security;
Announces Creation of Special Task Force

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today unveiled an aggressive multi-year plan that will expand the County’s capability to respond to emergencies, provide significant new resources to improve community security, and accelerate strategies already under development to enhance preparedness. Duncan also announced creation of a special task force that will coordinate the new initiatives.

“Preparation – not panic – should be the order of the day,” said Duncan. “The County is one of the most prepared local jurisdictions in the nation to handle a crisis, but there are always improvements that can be made. Now is the time to reassess our resources and capabilities and make any required improvements that will further ensure the safety of everyone who lives or works in the County.”

Duncan proposed new initiatives that will total $47 million over seven years, as well as other steps that will enhance security without the need for additional resources. One-time costs are $13.9 million, with $33.1 million in continuing costs. These initiatives will strengthen the County’s ability to respond to major incidents, improve the ability to communicate effectively with citizens during a crisis, and increase the safety and security of children and staff in County schools, County employees and other County facilities.

Duncan’s initiative will provide:

• $11.7 million to fund planning and construction of a new combined Emergency Operations and Transportation Management Center to be co-located with the County’s new Emergency Communications Center. This new, coordinated concept of operations for emergency response combines a comprehensive set of up-to-the-minute data about the resources the County can bring to bear on a situation with the most current and comprehensive intelligence from or around an incident scene.

• $1.3 million for new police and fire communications and command vehicles to improve on-scene command resources for complex or multiple disasters;

• $18.3 million in upgrades to bio-chemical hazard preparedness and bomb squad readiness by adding another Urban Search and Rescue Team, and additional equipment, supplies, staff, and training;

• $11.3 million to enhance security for school children;

• $456,000 for improved communication with the public; and

• $3.9 million for increased security for County facilities and employees.

Duncan will be requesting appropriation authority from the County Council to immediately begin emergency spending of $6 million to implement projects that can be carried out right away, and to plan the complex initiatives that will require many months of development and coordination. Funding for $13.4 million will be requested in the County’s fiscal year 2003 budget, with an average annual cost of $5.5 million for the fiscal years 2004 and beyond.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Bruce Romer will present the plan to the County Council.

Duncan also announced creation of a special task force, under Chief Administrative Officer Bruce Romer’s leadership, that will ensure the package of initiatives is effectively coordinated with all County departments and agencies, with employee unions, and with other appropriate organizations in the County and in the Washington region.