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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG>NEWS ADVISORY<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></U></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><STRONG>Chatham Emergency Management Agency<o:p></o:p></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG><FONT size=3>For Immediate Release</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>August 31st, 2009, 3 PM</FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG><FONT size=3>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">K. Courtney Cunningham<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">912.201.4508<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(O)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">912.657.8671<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(C)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="mailto:kccunnin@chathamcounty.org"><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">kccunnin@chathamcounty.org</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=3>Public Invited to Discuss Hazard Mitigation Plan</FONT></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>Savannah, GA - August 31st, 2009, 3 PM</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The Steering Committee for the Chatham County Hazard Mitigation Plan will meet on September 15, 2009, at the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Coastal</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Georgia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. At this meeting, the committee and members of the public will discuss potential mitigation projects and priorities to be include in the plan update. We hope you are able to participate in this meeting. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The meeting is part of a planning process being conducted by Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), made possible by a FEMA grant provided through the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). The plan update will build on the current county hazard mitigation plan, which was completed and approved in 2005. CEMA has contracted the services of a consulting firm, James Lee Witt Associates, to assist with the update process.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The plan update will identify and document potential mitigation opportunities within the county, focusing on the reduction of the risks of loss of life, injury, and property damage from natural or human-caused disaster events. The plan will also provide a foundation for identifying projects suitable for future federal funding as it becomes available and will address past and potential issues caused by natural and human-caused hazards.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The first Steering Committee meeting held in May was widely attended and yielded a great deal of information to be included in the plan update. The second Steering Committee meeting in August provided a forum for discussion of risk assessment and vulnerabilities. We hope to continue moving forward with a high level of attendance and participation, as the plan is intended to address hazard vulnerability and mitigation issues within the county and participating municipalities. Please help us to continue becoming a more disaster resistant community.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=2>The third Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Coastal</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Georgia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">205 Fahm Street</st1:Street>, <st1:City w:st="on">Savannah</st1:City></st1:address>. Your participation and support are greatly appreciated, as is information you can add to the planning process. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT size=2><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If you have questions regarding the plan update process or the meeting, please contact Matt Stanley at CEMA at 912-201-4500 or </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="mailto:mjstanley@chathamcounty.org" target=_blank><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT color=#000000>mjstanley@chathamcounty.org</FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN style="COLOR: black">. If you have information that you feel would be beneficial to the planning process, please contact Alessandra Jerolleman of James Lee Witt Associates at 504-914-6648 or </SPAN><A href="mailto:ajerolleman@wittassociates.com" target=_blank><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT color=#000000>ajerolleman@wittassociates.com</FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN style="COLOR: black">.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman">K. Courtney Cunningham</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Emergency Management Specialist</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">External Affairs / Volunteer Coordination</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Chatham Emergency Management Agency</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">124 Bull Street, Suite 140</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">Savannah, GA 31401</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:kccunnin@chathamcounty.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman">kccunnin@chathamcounty.org</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">912.201.4508</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman">912.657.8671</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>