Reid Statement On Cancellation Of FEMA Exercise/Economic concerns put halt to Vegas disaster drill

[The Straight Story]

Reid Statement On Cancellation Of FEMA Exercise

December 3, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed him of its decision to cancel its exercise that faced overwhelming opposition from the local business community.

“I thank the Department of Homeland Security for considering my letter to Secretary Napolitano and reaching the decision to cancel this exercise so quickly. At a time when Las Vegas is beginning to show signs of improvement, including the first increase in tourism in a year, an exercise of this magnitude would have created unnecessary anxiety and possibly undo our efforts to strengthen the engine of Nevada’s economy.

“I look forward to working with Secretary Napolitano and FEMA in the future to ensure our first responders have every resource and opportunity they need to prepare for, and respond to, such an event.”

http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/pr_091203_femacancellation.cfm

Economic concerns put a halt to Las Vegas disaster drill

Two weeks ago we told you about the controversy brewing over the government's plan to conduct a mock terror attack in Las Vegas. After some major pressure from valley business leaders and Senator Harry Reid, that drill has been canceled.

When FEMA announced it wanted to conduct an emergency preparedness drill which would simulate terrorists detonating a nuclear bomb on the Las Vegas Strip or nearby, leaders with LVCVA and the Nevada Development Authority said now is not the time.

"…we wrote a letter in opposition to that exercise," NDA president Somer Hollingsworth explains. "The last thing we need to do is to be on national TV and no matter what happens here they are gonna put us on national TV and it's gonna be a mock nuclear bomb."

So after several stern letters and a firm call from Senator Reid to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the feds announced they changed their minds.

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11617817