G8 News Stories For the Week of May 10, 2004

Security - Georgia National Guard and Coast Guard Capabilities Demonstrated During State Emergency Management Conference

Whether preparing to host events like the upcoming G8 Summit or handling incidents that occur throughout  Georgia on a routine basis, the state is fortunate to have access to the specialized response capabilities provided by the Georgia National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.  Both agencies will demonstrate their unique response techniques on the final day of the Governor's Emergency Management Conference:  May 12, Savannah Trade Center, 1 International Drive, Savannah, Georgia.

At 11 a.m., the National Guard 4th Civil Support Team will provide a live demonstration showcasing the four components of a response scene setup:  communications/command, survey, medial and decontamination.   Following this demonstration, at 11:45 a.m., the Coast Guard will perform a helicopter rescue of a swimmer in the river outside of the Savannah Trade Center.  

Contact:  Lisa Ray, Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
404-635-7061, lray@gema.state.ga.us

Environment - Coastal Georgia Residents Show Environmental Stewardship by Participating in River Clean-up

Citizens of coastal Georgia are among the thousands of people who volunteer their time each year to clear trash from the state's rivers and streams.  The event is called "Rivers Alive" and last year it resulted in the cleanup of more than 350,000 pounds of trash from 1,306 miles of Georgia waters.  The most common items collected during the trash roundup include beverage bottles (glass, aluminum and plastic), food wrappers, bags, paper and tires.  In addition to cleaning our streams, rivers, beaches and lakes, cleanup events now include a diversity of activities such as tree/shrub plantings, family watershed festivals, and other water education programs.  The Georgia Environmental Protection Division's Adopt-A-Stream Program and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs' Keep Georgia Beautiful Program sponsor the river cleanup activities. 

Contact:   Kevin Chambers, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
(404) 651-7970, kevin_chambers@dnr.state.ga.us

Environment - 200 Million Year Old Species Plays Vital Role in Wildlife Conservation and Biomedical Industry

They have a mouth that cannot bite, claws that do not pinch and a dagger-like tail that is merely a levering device. Yet, for millions of years, horseshoe crabs have played a vital role in the ecology of Georgia 's estuaries and beaches. Migrating shorebirds depend on horseshoe crab eggs for the energy needed to make long migrations from wintering to nesting grounds. Loggerhead sea turtles are known to feed on horseshoe crabs, as do some species of sharks. The horseshoe crab, in turn, preys on a variety of mollusks and other bottom-dwelling organisms. This primitive creature also plays a vital role in protecting human health since their copper-based, blue blood is the only source of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate or LAL, a compound used to test for contamination in drug and blood supplies.

Contact: Nancy Butler, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
(912) 264-7218, nancy_butler@dnr.state.ga.us