Vicksburg sets seminar for emergency planning

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Federal, state and local emergency management officials will present a public safety seminar on Nov. 18 at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Col. Randy Cheston of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and public awareness expert Danny Spencer will be among the speakers at the free, day-long event hosted by the Vicksburg Gas Department.

“We’re looking forward to having our biggest group ever this year,” said James Beamon, superintendent of the city utility. “We have one of these events every year, mandated by the Public Service Commission, to provide information on responding to a natural gas emergency, and we decided to expand it this year to include other emergency response information.”

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Business owners, casino executives, school administrators, harbor patrol officials and airport managers, among others, have been invited.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Department of Transportation and city and county emergency management representatives also will be on hand. The event is open to the public.

Cheston will lead the morning seminar from 8 until noon, while Spencer will lead the session from 1:30 to 5 p.m. 

“They’re going to speak about different emergency and terrorism threats not only just abroad, but at the local level,” Beamon said.

On Tuesday, the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved picking up the $608.40 lunch tab for the event for the estimated 260 attendees.

The board on Oct. 23 approved spending $950 to rent space and equipment at the convention center for the event.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at sssanoski@vicksburgpost.com