The 2004 "All Hazards Forum," so named becuase it focuses on both natural and terrorist disaster management, is the first homeland security cofnerence that brings together public safety professionals from Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.  Registration is available on line at www.allhazardsforum.com now through November 19, and in person at the Baltimore Convention Center beginning Wednesday, December 1, at 7 a.m.

As the largest regional event of its kind, the 2004 All Hazards Forum will:

Bring together a critical mass of public and private homeland security stakeholders

Raise awareness of state and local needs, best-practices, and implementation challenges

Create opportunity to establish regional public-private sector partnerships that bridge multi-jurisdictional boundaries and integrate existing resources

Provide forum for information sharing, policy education, training and development of common procedures and protocols

Showcase the latest technologies and system solutions and promore cooperation and coordination throughout the region

"This begins a process for research and development and transfer of technology and techniques from the federal level to state and local governments.  Getting the right people together -- business and homeland security professionals -- is the first step.