FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAMES LEE WITT RETURNS TO GRAND FORKS 10 YEARS AFTER "FLOOD OF CENTURY"
JAMES LEE WITT RETURNS TO GRAND FORKS
10 YEARS AFTER "FLOOD OF CENTURY"
Witt Credited with Instituting Disaster Reduction Measures
Leading Disaster Mitigation Projects to Be Highlighted April 19-22
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GRAND FORKS, N.D. (April 19, 2007) –Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the "Flood of the Century," James Lee Witt, Chairman and CEO of James Lee Witt Associates, a part of GlobalOptions Group, Inc. (OTCBB: GOPG), will return to the communities he helped in the recovery when he served as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Mr. Witt now heads one of the nation's premier public safety and crisis management consulting firms that advises and develops plans on behalf of a number of government entities, including universities, hospitals, governments and a variety of Fortune 500 companies, including those in the insurance, transportation, entertainment, finance, utilities and emergency management industries. JLWA bridges government agencies and non-profits with industry and constituents, advises educational institutions, and assists state and local governments, as well as international bodies to prepare for and recover from disasters and crises. Among other projects, Witt's firm is assisting Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco on the long-term recovery after Hurricane Katrina, as well as conducting a review for Governor Edward Rendell of the state's February 14 winter storm response.
Mr. Witt and FEMA are among those who will be honored by the City of Grand Forks at a special ceremony Sunday, April 22 in the city's Town Square. The city will dedicate its $409 million flood protection project and pay tribute to those who played a significant role in bringing the community back from the brink of disaster. Mr. Witt, FEMA, local leadership and the countless Americans who donated time, money and expertise to help in the recovery will be honored.
In April 1997, the cities of Grand Forks, North Dakota and neighboring East Grand Forks, Minnesota were devastated when floodwaters poured into the communities, forcing the evacuation of approximately 90 percent of Grand Forks and all of East Grand Forks. In the midst of the flooding, fire broke out in the heart of Grand Forks' downtown, damaging or destroying 11 buildings before being brought under control.
Even before floodwaters receded, local leaders in both communities began the process of bringing the cities back with the help of Mr. Witt, FEMA and the states of North Dakota and Minnesota.
On Mr. Witt's return to Grand Forks, he said, "Today, the success of the long-term recovery needs to be credited to the strong local leadership and a commitment to rebuild by citizens and business owners. Along with the state and federal support, Grand Forks instituted a number of disaster-reduction measures and this has successfully been able to better protect the city against possible future disasters," he added.
"Our greatest accomplishment after the Grand Forks tragedy," Witt said, "was being able to work with the state and surrounding cities in putting together a buy-out relocation program to make sure that the people in these areas would not have face devastation like that again."
Anniversary festivities begin Thursday, April 19 with a luncheon honoring former Grand Forks Mayor Pat Owens and East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss who was at the helm of that city both during and after the flood.
The celebration continues through Sunday, April 22 and includes such activities as a parade, lighting ceremony, community dinners in both cities, two performances of Keep the Faith, a musical about the flood, and live music including a free concert by Los Lobos. A complete schedule of events for both cities can be found at www.grandforksgov.com.
James Lee Witt is credited with turning FEMA from an unsuccessful bureaucratic agency to an internationally lauded all-hazards disaster management agency. His leadership abilities have been praised by nationally recognized organizations, including the Council for Excellence in Government, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and the National Association of Broadcasters. He also oversaw the National Flood Insurance Program, the U.S. Fire Administration and other proactive mitigation activities that reduce loss of life and property from all types of hazards. More importantly, he was responsible for response and recovery operations for six of the 10 most devastating disasters of all time, including the most costly flood disaster in the nation's history, the most costly earthquake and a dozen damaging hurricanes.
Mr. Witt was the visionary and architect of national government programs related to emergency preparedness and mitigation, response and recovery. In addition to his experience in emergency management on the state and local level, Mr. Witt has expertise integrating community-based disaster management with national emergency management strategy. He initiated Project Impact, the innovative disaster-prevention program implemented in more than 240 cities and towns nationwide to help make communities at the local level disaster-resistant.
Mr. Witt integrated flood mitigation, control and protection into FEMA's policy. After the devastating Midwest floods of 1993, Mr. Witt pursued an aggressive flood-prone property acquisition and relocation program. By purchasing properties that were repeatedly flooded, he saved taxpayers millions of dollars when floods ravaged the same Midwest area again in 1995.
About James Lee Witt Associates
Founded in 2001, James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA), a part of the GlobalOptions Group, is a public safety and crisis management consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Little Rock, and Sacramento. Led by James Lee Witt, the FEMA Director under President Clinton, JLWA has unrivaled experience and hands-on knowledge of public safety, disaster response, continuity of operations, and emergency management issues. JLWA's management team and staff include some of the nation's most notable and experienced disaster management experts, including General Wesley Clark, one of the nation's most distinguished retired military officers, who formerly served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander; and Rodney Slater, who formerly served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
JLWA's clients include the nation's premier universities, hospitals, governments and a variety of Fortune 500 companies, including those in the insurance, transportation, entertainment, finance, utilities, and emergency management industries. JLWA was retained by the State of Louisiana to help Governor Blanco on disaster recovery matters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and by the City of Philadelphia to conduct a top-to-bottom emergency preparedness assessment. JLWA has advised government leaders, including governors, members of Congress, administration officials, and state and local elected officials, on emergency management policies and programs. www.wittassociates.com
About GlobalOptions Group, Inc.
GlobalOptions Group, with headquarters in New York City and offices in 16 cities, is a provider of high-end risk assessment and mitigation services to Fortune 1000 corporations, governmental organizations and high-profile individuals throughout the world. GlobalOptions Group's services currently include risk management and security, investigations and litigation support, and crisis management. These engagements take GlobalOptions Group staff around the world and are typically highly-sensitive engagements where GlobalOptions Group is interacting with senior leaders in corporations and governments. Its overall mission is to identify, evaluate, assess, prevent and correct issues that may threaten people, organizations or strategic initiatives for corporations or governments. Additional information can be found at www.globaloptionsgroup.com
Statements in this press release regarding the company's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. The company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1994, and as such, speak only as of the date made. To the extent the content of this press release includes forward-looking statements, they involve various risks and uncertainties including the successful integration of the acquired businesses, projected financial information, and the continued successful implementation of the company's business strategy.
Certain of these risks and uncertainties will be described in greater detail in GlobalOptions Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. GlobalOptions Group is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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