NATCHEZ &045; As war waged in Iraq, the who’s who of Adams County and Natchez showed up to a special briefing Friday on emergency planning, civil defense crisis planning and homeland security presented by Adams County Emergency Management Agency Director George Souderes Jr.

Natchez police and fire representatives, officials from the highway patrol and people from the water system, schools, daycares, Isle of Capri Casino and many others showed up to the briefing to learn more about how they can be more aware and prepared in case of an emergency in correlation with the war.

&uot;For agencies, you have a responsibility to employees and people who are in and around your building,&uot; Souderes said.

Souderes gave law enforcement and agencies a list of questions to think about when considering threat assessments. Souderes also suggested every agency have an emergency plan written out and that every employee has access to it.

&uot;We don’t anticipate a problem, but we’re prepared for it,&uot; Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said.

Mullens also encouraged that any suspicious activity be reported.

&uot;A problem is people will call and say I did see something suspicious but I didn’t want to call because I didn’t want to bother you,&uot; Mullins said.

Mullins said he wants to encourage anyone who sees any suspicious activity to call the police.

Citizens can call star hp on a cell phone to report suspicious activity. These calls will go to the nearest Mississippi Highway Patrol office.

Souderes said if anyone has car trouble on the Mississippi River Bridge, they need to get off the bridge as quickly as possible because orders have been placed to tow any cars parked on the bridge.

Some people in the audience questioned the safety of the water. Adams County Water officials said the water is required to go through an assessment program.

Meanwhile, Mississippi Valley Gas has implemented a training program for their employees and also hired a compliance officer for homeland security.

Souderes said Adams County has received a federal grant in the amount of $100,000 dollars and is expected to receive another $100,000 dollars to build an emergency response team.

This team will be a regional response team that will cover six counties, including Harrison, Hattisburg, Jackson, Hines, Desota and Adams.

In the past, employees from Ethyl Corporation and the International Paper mill of Natchez were called upon for hazardous responses.

Since the IP mill will be closing and a lot of those employees have the skills for emergencies, they will be asked to volunteer for the emergency response team.

&uot;These things are in place and hopefully we won’t have to use them,&uot; said Natchez Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith.

&uot;One wordŠunity,&uot; Souderes said. &uot;We have to do it together,&uot; he said.