Terrorism Attack and Pandemic Exercise at ESS EXPO.08 Spotlights Strategies
and Tools to Safeguard U.S. Chemical Plants
Homeland Security Official to Outline Federal Standards for Securing Chemical Plants
TEMPE, Ariz. - April 1, 2008 - ESS, the leading provider of Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) and Crisis Management software for enterprise sustainability, today announced that it will sponsor a major chemical facility anti-terrorism exercise during ESS EXPO.08, where organizations will demonstrate the latest information technology tools for crisis management. ESS EXPO.08 will be held April 13-17, 2008 at the Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix.
The exercise begins with a simulation entitled Green Scorpion in which terrorists gain access to a large chemical processing facility. Emergency teams will implement response strategies that are designed to stop the terrorists, free hostages and prevent or mitigate damage to the facility and surrounding area. In addition, the exercise will also look at how the incident might be complicated by the simultaneous outbreak of a pandemic. Providing a multi-hazard scenario will demonstrate why public and private organizations need a comprehensive emergency response strategy and the latest integrated information management tools.
Emergency exercises are now required for certain facilities under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorist Standards (CFATS), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule designed to identify and secure high-risk chemical facilities that present potential terrorist threats.
ESS crisis management expert John Gargett will lead the exercise, on Monday, April 14. It will feature responder teams from Chandler, Ariz., along with other private and public responders; representatives from ESS crisis management technology solution partners SAIC, L-3 Communications, RP Flight Systems, SRA International; and special effects provider Double F Productions.
"The Department of Homeland Security believes chemical processing facilities are major targets for terrorist attacks," said Robert Johnson, ESS President and CEO. "That is why a growing number of organizations are implementing crisis management software solutions as a best practice to help responders streamline response during exercises and real-time emergencies."
ESS EXPO.08 will also include a session led by Brian Harrell of DHS's Chemical Security Compliance Division. His presentation, Meeting the Challenge - Tuesday, April 15 from 1-2 p.m. - will explain the ramifications of CFATS.
ESS EXPO.08 will feature more than 50 other sessions designed to demonstrate how organizations are using integrated software solutions for Crisis Management and EH&S. Also, there will be several training opportunities, including "Automating Crisis Exercises with Essential Suite™," a two-day Crisis Management course.
About ESS
ESS is the leading provider of Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) and Crisis Management sustainability software that supports Governance, Risk and Compliance and operational excellence. The company has provided global and local software solutions for thousands of businesses, government agencies and other organizations worldwide. ESS is- headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., with major U.S offices in Denver, Houston Washington, D.C, and international offices in Beijing, China and Calgary, Alberta.
