September 11, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Ibis Antongiorgi, Press Secretary to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, at 312-603-0396 or by email at iantongiorgi@cookcountygov.com. 

Stroger Demonstrates Hi-Tech Vehicles as Part of County’s Emergency Preparedness Efforts  

See below for high-resolution photo.

September 11, 2007 – Today, Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger demonstrated hi-tech vehicles designed to perform a variety of critical services, such as streaming real time video to first responders as part of the Cook County’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency radio and data communications. The demonstration at Stroger Hospital highlighted the County’s emergency preparedness, which involves collaborative efforts between Cook County’s Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) and local municipalities in light of the events of September 11, 2001.

“These hi-tech vehicles, utilized by local law enforcement personnel, will help ensure that first responders can see what is happening in affected areas and prepare accordingly, before arriving to the scene,” said President Stroger. “We have made great strides in strengthening our emergency communications and continue to work closely with elected officials, police, fire, public health, public works and emergency managers throughout the County to ensure that our residents are prepared and protected in a time of need.”

The CCEMA has been working with its partners to enhance technology and emergency training with suburban villages. The state-of-the-art vehicles, purchased with Homeland Security funding, play an integral role in ensuring a coordinated emergency response with municipal officials across the County region.

The CCEMA played an important role last month when President Stroger declared a state of emergency for Cook County as a result of the torrential storms and heavy flooding that caused economic damage and hardship for residents and businesses county-wide. The declaration of a Cook County State of Emergency activated the County’s Emergency Operations Plan, which operates under the CCEMA.  Under the Illinois Emergency Management Act, the Cook County declaration authorized the executive measures necessary to coordinate the delivery of services to the affected areas – including the authorization of emergency purchasing. 

The County delivered more than 450,000 sandbags to areas impacted by the flooding as well as hundreds of hours of labor providing materials, loading sandbags and addressing debris removal through the Cook County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) and the Cook County Highway Department.

President Stroger demonstrated the following vehicles at Stroger Hospital:

• Mobile Command Vehicle helps manage and control responses to emergencies through radio, data and voice communication technology. 
• Mobile Decontamination Vehicle used to provide decontamination services to individuals exposed to dangerous chemicals or radioactive agents.   
• Cook County Public Health Department's Regional Command Vehicle provides the Public Health response team with full data and video communication capabilities to local, national and international resources.
• Cook County Public Health Department's Rapid Detection Response Laboratory
• Cook County Public Health Department's Mobile Command Communication Examination and Center
• Cook County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad Response Vehicle 
• Municipal patrol vehicle containing Project Shield capabilities

The Project Shield program, a key component of the County’s emergency preparedness, is a wireless, streaming data system for first responders that provides critical real time data and/or images to law enforcement personnel in order to best respond to saving lives and properties in an emergency. The technology is designed to collect information and send a real time video to municipalities equipped with Project Shield.

Currently, 38 municipalities in Cook County are equipped with Project Shield. The goal is to equip all 128 municipalities in Cook County with this cutting edge technology.

In addition, the County is undertaking a $9.6 million radio enhancement initiative for suburban Cook County to include hand-held radio, infrastructure enhancement and redundant communication systems. The initiative is being funded by Homeland Security grants.

Cook County is the 19th largest unit of government in the nation representing more than five million residents in 128 municipalities and 30 townships.

For more information, contact Ibis Antongiorgi, Press Secretary to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, at 312-603-0396 or iantongiorgi@cookcountygov.com. 

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