NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [DATE]
CONTACT: Brian Namey, bnamey@naco.org, 202-942-4220
[ADD LOCAL CONTACT]
[NAME] participates in Safe and Secure
Counties Symposium in El Paso County,
Colo.
Event aims to help counties nationwide strengthen
safety for residents
WASHINGTON, D.C. – [NAME AND TITLE] participated in the National Association of Counties
(NACo) Safe and Secure Counties Symposium Dec. 2-4 in El Paso County, Colo. as part of NACo
President Sallie Clark’s Safe and Secure Counties initiative. Approximately 200 officials from
counties nationwide along with other government, philanthropic and private sector leaders
participated in the event. Participants discussed how counties build safe and secure
communities by managing justice systems, responding to natural disasters and facilitating
emergency management response.
“Counties create and implement programs that keep our residents safe, mitigate damage and
prepare for future disasters. We are also working to improve criminal justice practices,
especially as they relate to mental illness and substance abuse. All counties work to build
healthy, vibrant and safe communities,” said [NAME — QUOTE SHOULD BE ADAPTED TO YOUR
VOICE AND PRIORITIES]. “In [COUNTY NAME], we are …[HIGHLIGHT HOW YOUR COUNTY
STRENGTHENS RESIDENTS’ SAFETY AND SECURITY]”
NACo Pres. Clark said, “In communities nationwide, there are countless examples of how
counties deliver programs that keep our residents safe, mitigate damage and prepare for future
disasters. We are working with public and private partners to strengthen safety and improve
the quality of life for millions of people across the country.”
County leaders participated in educational sessions and presentations featuring:
 Kathleen Koch, founder and director of LeadersLink and an award-winning journalist
who covered for CNN the White House, Pentagon and Capitol Hill as well as several
disasters including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina
 Roy E. Wright, deputy associate administrator for insurance and mitigation at FEMA
 Matthew Travis, senior facilitator and program manager at FEMA’s National Exercise
Division, and
 Dr. Randall Hyer, assistant director of the Center for Risk Communication.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES | 25 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.W. SUITE 500 | WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 | 202.393.6226 | FAX
202.393.2630 | WWW.NACO.ORG
FB.COM/NACODC | TWITTER.COM/NACOTWEETS | YOUTUBE.COM/NACOVIDEO | LINKEDIN.COM/IN/NACODC
Highlights of the symposium included mobile workshops:
 McCullough Water Treatment Plant and U.S. Air Force Academy
 Waldo Canyon Fire and Flood Mitigation
 Peterson Air Force Space Command, and
 El Paso County Justice Systems.
Educational sessions focused on disaster response and preparedness, cybersecurity, criminal
justice reform, mental health and public safety, risk management and crisis communications.
Attendees also participated in a hands-on FEMA tabletop exercise that guided county leaders to
enhance counties’ emergency response and management.
[INSERT INFORMATION AND QUOTES ABOUT SESSIONS YOU ATTENDED AND WHAT YOU
ARE TAKING BACK TO YOUR COUNTY]
Counties play an essential role in keeping America’s communities safe and secure. Each year,
counties nationwide make critical investments in safety, including:
 $70 billion dollars in the justice system, law enforcement and crime prevention
 $70 billion in public health services, and
 $25 billion dollars in economic development efforts.
For more information on the Safe and Secure Counties initiative, visit
http://www.naco.org/featured/safe-and-secure-counties.
###
The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America’s 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings
county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills,
pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary
leadership in public service. More information at: www.naco.org.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES | 25 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.W. SUITE 500 | WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 | 202.393.6226 | FAX
202.393.2630 | WWW.NACO.ORG
FB.COM/NACODC | TWITTER.COM/NACOTWEETS | YOUTUBE.COM/NACOVIDEO | LINKEDIN.COM/IN/NACODC