Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today Sunday, November 9, New York City will conduct "Operation I.C.E.," an inter-agency training exercise designed to prepare emergency responders for the possibility of a terrorist attack.

"Operation I.C.E. " consists of three inter-related training events intended to measure a different aspect of New York City's public safety system. The centerpiece of "Operation I.C.E." is FIELDEX, an elaborate field exercise that will simulate a chemical attack on a large public gathering. Today's operation was launched in lower Manhattan bounded by Chambers Street to the South, Vestry Street to the North, West Street to the West and Varick Street to the East.

Today's simulation will involve approximately 600 emergency response professionals from the Police Department, Fire Department, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the Departments of Environmental Protection, Health, and Transportation. The Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will also participate in this field exercise which is under the direction of Jerome M. Hauer, Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management.

"It is imperative that New York City be prepared for every kind of disaster, including terrorists," said Mayor Giuliani. "Operation I.C.E." - the culmination of a year-long disaster preparedness project will help our emergency responders prepare for any situation. Today's exercise is a great example of inter-agency cooperation among City and Federal agencies. I want to thank the emergency personnel and volunteers who participated in today's exercise, their efforts today will better protect and prepare our City and fellow New Yorkers."