Governor Announces Homeland Security Regional Training Seminars

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced the schedule and locations of a series of 16 statewide Homeland Security training seminars. Governor Ryan directed the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to coordinate the regional seminars last week. The seminars are scheduled to begin October 29 and conclude on December 7.

"These briefings will build on the thousands of hours of specialized training that emergency workers around the state have already received through the work of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force," Gov. Ryan said. "We will offer training, but also try to answer questions the public may have, and outline the steps Illinois has already taken to respond to terrorist threats."

The four-hour briefings will be open to local officials, first responders and the general public. The briefings are free to the public, but people interested in attending are asked to register in advance. Topics that will be addressed during the training seminars include, building security, awareness of suspicious behavior, emergency management plans and what response assets are available to assist in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster.

The regional training seminars are being coordinated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Illinois' newly appointed Coordinator of Homeland Security, Matt Bettenhausen. State agencies that will be participating include Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois National Guard, and the Secretary of State Bomb Squad.

To register for these briefings, please contact the Illinois Emergency Management Agency at 1-800-247-5010. Registrations for the Springfield, Peoria and Kankakee seminars must be received no later than October 26th, registrations for all other seminars must be received no later than 1 week prior to the scheduled date of the event.

All of the workshops are from 9am - 1pm with the exception of Wheaton College, which will be held from 1pm - 5pm.