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Glynn
County Georgia – Sea Island, a resort community on the
Georgia coast, has been chosen to host next year’s
meeting of leaders of the world’s major industrial
countries, announced Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue at a
special news conference. The summit meeting is
scheduled for June 8, 9, and 10 2004.
Sea
Island is one of Georgia’s barrier islands is about 60
miles south of Savannah, Georgia. It has been said
the location is ideal for keeping away protesters and
enforcing a tight ring of security. Having the
summit in Glynn County presents one of the most unique
challenges the Glynn County Fire Department has had in
years. Anti-globalization protesters have had a
growing presence at the annual summits, where leaders from
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United
Kingdom and the United States meet to discuss economic and
political issues.
During
the last summit in Evian, France, leaders were left
wondering who would pay the bill for cleaning up after the
vandalism and looting, which engaged all public safety
agencies in neighboring Switzerland.
Gov.
Sonny Perdue has said that he is not worried by the threat
of protesters. State officials will be running
practice drills to prepare for the summit, he said.
Sea
Island is a private, 5-mile-long resort island and is near
federal military and law enforcement installations as well
as Kings Bay submarine base. The Sea Island Golf
Lodge, carries a five-star rating is located on St. Simons
and area Hotels are already reserved for the event.
The press will be located in the Savannah Georgia area for
the event.
The
summit is said to have already disrupted several June
wedding plans in the Golden Isles. There
will be limited access to the islands, as well as high
occupancy rates, which will interfere with normal vacation
plans for that period. This places much concern for
many firefighters who live and work at assigned stations
on St. Simons. (There are 3 county fire stations,
which serve that particular area)
The
Glynn County Fire Department is moving quickly.
Denver, Seattle, and Calgary, Canada, which held earlier
summits, will be contacted. From them, it will be
learned of the expectations place on the fire departments
because of the summit. Members of the G-8 summit
planning committee will be meeting with local fire
department officials to discuss the potential effects and
predicted impact on public safety for the area.
Most
people feel that the summit will be good for our
community. The exposure of the Golden Isles to the
world should help the tourist industry. Chief
Johnson of the Glynn County Fire Department is beginning
to understand the impact the event will have on his
department. When speaking to a secret service
representative, Chief Johnson mentioned that when other US
Presidents or former Presidents visited the Golden Isles
that the Secret Service requested one Fire Truck and one
Squad standing near the officials at all times. He
asked the Secret Service Representative what would be
required of his department. The Secret Service
Representative told Chief Johnson to, “multiply the
resources used in the past by 10 and that may be what
would be required. Most members of the local fire
departments actually feel that it is just too early to
tell how the summit will affect the fire departments and
personnel. One thing is already sure. Chief
Johnson and other public Safety agencies have cancelled
all vacations for that period. The fire department
plans to meet the challenge with additional training and
the proper attitude so that we will continue to be a model
for other departments to follow.
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