COMMONWEALTH RESPONDS TO TERRORIST ACTS


 

 

Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, VA 23236
CONTACT: Janet Clements (804) 897-6510


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 12, 2001
 

 


COMMONWEALTH RESPONDS TO TERRORIST ACTS


Richmond, VA -- Terrorist attacks yesterday on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington County, Va., resulted in major destruction and numerous casualties. Gov. Jim Gilmore declared a state of emergency at noon yesterday.

The extent of damage and casualties is unknown. The governor has requested a federal major disaster declaration for Arlington County. Interstate 395 is open except for Exit 8B at the Pentagon. U.S. airspace remains closed to all but emergency and military operations.

Ongoing actions follow:

  • The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) is fully staffed.
  • Requests for medical assistance and search and rescue resources are being coordinated to support emergency response operations at the Pentagon.
  • Selected units of the Virginia National Guard have been placed on alert at their home stations; military police personnel are providing security at several locations in the state; and all other Virginia National Guard units are on heightened alert.
  • Numerous local governments have offered resources to support Arlington County or New York City response operations.
  • The Fairfax County, Va., and the Montgomery County, Md., Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces have been deployed to the Pentagon; the Virginia Beach and the Memphis, Tenn., Task Forces are staged in the area.
  • Heightened security is in effect at state and federal locations across the state.
  • FEMA Region III and Department of Defense liaison officers are located in the VEOC.
  • State representatives are co-located with the FBI's Joint Operations Center at Ft. Meyer. The Arlington County Local Disaster Recovery Task Force has conducted initial planning sessions.
  • The FEMA Emergency Response Team - Advance is on site in Arlington County.
  • The following state agencies and other organizations are participating in response and recovery operations: Attorney General and State Police; departments of Aviation, Corrections, Information Technology, Transportation, Health, Military Affairs and Fire Programs; Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) and Dominion Power.

The VEOC will remain augmented as long as necessary to support local government and state agency requests for assistance.