AGENCIES REPORTING SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION

Fwded FYI.
73 de Mack N9NTB

>  -----Original Message-----
> From:         Gleason, Edward  
> Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 5:54 PM
> To:   *DMA-WEM Central; *DMA-WEM Congressional Liaisons; *DMA-WEM Regional
> Offices; *DMA-Command; *Legislative All Assembly; *Legislative All Senate;
> Lessner, Laura; Taylor, Chad
> Cc:   Adams County; Ashland County; Barron County; Bayfield County; Brown
> County; Buffalo County; Burnett County; Calumet County; 
> Subject:      Terrorism Preparedness/Planning Situation Report #2
> 
> (Laura Lessner - Please forward to all cabinet members. Thanks)
State of Wisconsin
\
Department of Military Affairs
Wisconsin Emergency Management

2400 Wright St
P.O. Box 7865
Madison, WI 53707-7865
Telephone (608) 242-3232
Facsimile (608) 242-3247
24 Hour Emergency Hotline: 1-800-943-0003
 <<...>> 

DATE:   October 4, 2001

TO:             Governor Scott McCallum

FROM:   Ed Gleason
                Administrator

SUBJECT:        SITUATION REPORT ON TERRORISM PREPAREDNESS/THREATS #2

The following is significant information we have received to date from the
state agencies.  I will provide written reports periodically to fill in the
holes from my oral briefings. 

AGENCIES REPORTING SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) -  Prior to Secretary Thompson's
announcement of the Anthrax case in Miami, the FBI office in Milwaukee
briefed me on this development to ensure you were informed.  I advised DHFS
and they are prepared to answer media inquiries.

On October 3, along with the Chief of Staff, WEM met with DNR, DATCP, DOA,
DMA, DOT, DHFS, DER, Public Service Commission, Tourism and Capitol Police
to discuss a broad range of ongoing efforts to ensure our awareness levels
remain high.  Topics discussed were security steps that may be necessary for
buildings and employees and state-wide efforts to ensure that potential
threats are properly identified and reported. 

The Governor's Task Force on Terrorism Preparedness will first meet on
October 11 at 2:00 in the Governor's conference room. This 20-member panel
will study state and local preparedness efforts and provide direction and
guidance for the future. 

My office has been in contact with several legislators who are interested in
the state's preparedness for terrorism.  I am preparing a written brief on
the status of efforts to-date and will provide this information by the end
of the week.  Additionally, my office may conduct a briefing for legislators
later this month.  A tentative date for the briefing is October 16.  Details
will be finalized early next week.

Two Wisconsin Emergency Management staff members continue to assist with the
recovery operation at the New York Operations Center.  New York Emergency
Management Director had requested the assistance from Wisconsin under the
Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Northeast Regional
Director/Supervisor Rob Rude and Southwest Regional Director Larry Reed left
last weekend for New York City to provide assistance for two weeks. They
will return on October 15.

Department of Military Affairs -  On October 4, 50 additional Wisconsin
National Guard members were activated to provide security at Truax Field in
Madison and other undisclosed locations.  This is the second unit to be
federally activated.  This Guard call-up is unrelated to the ongoing
security mission the Guard is providing at seven Wisconsin airports which
was positively featured on CNN this afternoon.

Public Service Commission -  On October 3, as requested by Governor Scott
McCallum, Public Service Chair Ave Bie and I met with Wisconsin utilities to
review plans protecting energy infrastructure.  Representatives from the gas
and electric industry including companies representing energy generation,
transmission and distribution were present.  The Nuclear Management Company
which manages Point Beach, Kewaunee and Minnesota's Prairie Island nuclear
plants briefed all those in attendance about their security measures and
efforts. Also attending were officials from Ameritech, Verizon, and
CenturyTel.  All remain in a heightened level of security and awareness and
feel that they have appropriate plans in place to provide a reliable level
of service.

Office of Insurance Commissioner - On October 3, Commissioner Connie
O'Connell met with members of the Wisconsin Insurance Association in Elkhart
Lake.  The group expressed concern about reinsurers increasing premiums and
changing terms and conditions based on the events of September 11.  There
was some indication that reinsurance premiums were going to rise anyway, but
the group was concerned that the terrorist attacks will add to those planned
hikes.  This concern for reinsurers was echoed on a national level by the
other state commissioners during a NAIC conference call that was also held
this week.

State Patrol -  As a request from U.S. Department of Transportation, all
available Compliance Review Inspectors will be given a list of hazardous
material carriers in their area.  The inspector will visit with each carrier
official personally to discuss security issues and examine driver rosters.