NAME Participates Insafe and Secure Counties Symposium in El Paso County, Colo

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CONTACT: Brian Namey, , 202-942-4220

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[NAME] participates inSafe and Secure Counties Symposium in El Paso County, Colo.

Event aims to help counties nationwide strengthen safety for residents

WASHINGTON, D.C. – [NAME AND TITLE]participated in the National Association of Counties (NACo)Safe and Secure Counties SymposiumDec.2-4 in El Paso County, Colo. as part of NACo President Sallie Clark’s Safe and Secure Counties initiative. Approximately200 officials from counties nationwide along with other government, philanthropic and private sector leaders participated in the event. Participants discussed how counties build safe and secure communities by managing justice systems, responding to natural disasters and facilitating emergency management response.

“Counties create and implement programs that keep our residents safe, mitigate damage and prepare for future disasters. We are alsoworking to improve criminal justice practices, especially as they relate to mental illness and substance abuse. All counties work to build healthy, vibrant and safe communities,”said [NAME — QUOTE SHOULD BE ADAPTED TO YOUR VOICE AND PRIORITIES]. “In [COUNTY NAME], we are …[HIGHLIGHT HOW YOUR COUNTY STRENGTHENS RESIDENTS’ SAFETY AND SECURITY]”

NACo Pres. Clark said, “In communities nationwide, there are countless examples of how counties deliver programs that keep our residents safe, mitigate damage and prepare for future disasters. We are working with public and private partners to strengthen safety and improve the quality of life for millions of people across the country.”

County leaders participated in educational sessions and presentations featuring:

Kathleen Koch, founder and director of LeadersLink and an award-winning journalist who covered for CNN the White House, Pentagon and Capitol Hill as well as several disasters including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina
Roy E. Wright, deputy associate administrator for insurance and mitigation at FEMA
Matthew Travis, senior facilitator and program manager at FEMA’s National Exercise Division, and
Dr. Randall Hyer, assistant director of the Center for Risk Communication.

Highlights of the symposium included mobile workshops:

McCullough Water Treatment Plant and U.S. Air Force Academy
Waldo Canyon Fire and Flood Mitigation
Peterson Air Force Space Command, and
El Paso County Justice Systems.

Educational sessions focused on disaster response and preparedness, cybersecurity, criminal justice reform, mental health and public safety, risk management and crisis communications. Attendees also participated in a hands-on FEMA tabletop exercise that guided county leaders to enhance counties’ emergency response and management.

[INSERT INFORMATION AND QUOTES ABOUT SESSIONS YOU ATTENDED AND WHAT YOU ARE TAKING BACK TO YOUR COUNTY]

Counties play an essential role in keeping America’s communities safe and secure. Each year, counties nationwide make critical investments in safety, including:

$70 billion dollars in the justice system, law enforcement and crime prevention
$70 billion in public health services, and
$25 billion dollars in economic development efforts.

For more information on the Safe and Secure Counties initiative, visit

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The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America’s 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service. More information at: .

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