Governor Scott McCallum's Summary of Wisconsin Terrorism Preparedness Efforts for this Week

 
Wisconsin's Terrorism Preparedness Efforts

November 16, 2001 Report

 

On November 12, I attended the Tri-State Criminal Justice Executive Leadership Conference held at the La Crosse Center. The three-day conference
attracted more than 100 law enforcement and government officials from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.  I stressed the importance of collaboration
between the tri-state law enforcement agencies in countering terrorism.  Working together has become even more imperative in the last few months.  It
will only help better protect the people of our states.  

Below are some of the outreach efforts by various state and local agencies in the past week.

 

Wisconsin Alliance of Cities Stress Preparedness

Domestic preparedness was the focus of a forum sponsored by Green Bay Mayor Paul Jardin and the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities on
November 12.  More than 120 village and city officials from around Wisconsin attended the meeting to discuss recent terrorist threats and
plan preparedness strategies. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Ed Gleason, Rep. FrankUrban, and other federal, state
and community leaders spoke on terrorism preparedness issues and answered questions and concerns. Topics covered were
transportation, utilities and response agencies.  The forums were facilitated by Mayors Kevin Crawford (Manitowoc), Sue Bauman
(Madison), and Timothy Hanna (Appleton).

 

No Traces of Anthrax Found at Milwaukee Post Office

On Monday, samples were taken from the the Milwaukee Post Office and Oak Creek Annex to be tested for anthrax.  Samples were taken
from various locations in the facilities and were tested at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison.  All test results were
negative for the presence of anthrax.

 

Through mid-November our labs in Milwaukee and Madison have conducted nearly 600 tests for anthrax and all have tested negative. 

 

Public Health Guidance

Testing suspicious powders was one of the topics discussed at the Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Bioterrorism Preparedness.  The
group consists of members from local and state public health agencies and the FBI.  The council manages the Department of Health and
Family Services five year bioterrorism preparedness grant.  At this week's meeting, the group also discussed the use of the Health Alert
Network, the national stockpiling of pharmaceuticals and broadening the scope on terrorism preparedness.

 

Protecting our Water

On November 14, water utility representatives met with Public Service Commission Chair Ave Bie and Wisconsin Emergency Management
Administrator Ed Gleason as well as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to
discuss water system safety and to identify measures to enhance system security to safeguard our water supply.  The protection of our
critical infrastructure, which includes our water supply, remains one of my highest priorities. 

 

DNR has developed a draft security guidance for publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities.  The final document will be
distributed next month.

 

County Emergency Management Directors Gather in Madison

On November 15, Wisconsin county emergency directors were briefed on the state's terrorism preparedness efforts from a number of state
agencies.  The directors were also provided a briefing on the State's Domestic Preparedness Strategic Plan and the plan to distribute the
personnel protective equipment grants to our first responders. 

 

Insurance Industry Deals with Terrorism Fallout

On November 9, Commissioner O'Connell and staff participated in a conference call with Wisconsin property and casualty insurers to
discuss the effect of September 11 on the Wisconsin insurance industry.  The Commissioner and industry representatives resolved to work
together to push for federal legislation creating a short-term re-insurance funding mechanism for acts of terrorism.

 

Private Security Personnel Permit Process Tightened

The Department of Regulation and Licensing has tightened the procedures relating to the granting of permits to private security personnel.
The department no longer issues conditional permits to private security applicants.  The department had been granting conditional permits
that were valid while the department completed the background check on the applicant.  A successful background check would result in a
regular permit being issued. The problem with conditional permits is that they remained in effect until the department received an FBI
criminal record report which could take anywhere from 25 days to several months to receive.  Private security personnel play a large role in
protecting the safety of Wisconsin citizens.  

 

Community Brainstorming Conference in Milwaukee

On November 17,  Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Gleason will join representatives from the FBI and Milwaukee's fire
department and public health office for a community panel discussion on terrorism at St. Matthew's Church in Milwaukee. 

 

Domestic Terrorism Town Hall Meeting in Waukesha

On November 19, Waukesha County Technical College will be hosting a town hall meeting moderated by Waukesha County Executive
Dan Finley to answer community concerns regarding terrorism. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Gleason and
Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Dubé will present the state's efforts in terrorism preparedness.   

 

Protecting Wisconsin Power Plants

The nuclear power plants in Wisconsin remain at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's maximum-security level.  However, the 10-mile no
fly zone around the plants has been lifted.  The Wisconsin State Patrol continues to provide perimeter security at the Kewaunee Nuclear
Power Plant.  Electric utility fossil plants are also maintaining a heightened level of security.  

 

Wisconsin State Patrol Assists Local Law Enforcement

Since the September 11 attack, in addition to the heightened enforcement of our hazardous materials carriers, the Wisconsin State
Patrol has willingly assisted local police and county sheriff's departments in responding to the calls from concerned citizens resulting
from the current heightened law enforcement alert.

 

Airport Security at Wisconsin's Airports

At the request of President Bush, I have increased security at two additional Wisconsin airports by the using the soldiers and airmen
of the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard. Beginning November 21, we will also provide security at the Chippewa Valley
Regional Airport in Eau Claire and the Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport.  This will bring to 120 soldiers and airmen guarding
Wisconsin's critical airports.  The other airports are Austin Straubel (Green Bay), Central Wisconsin (Mosinee), Dane County
Regional (Madison), General Mitchell International (Milwaukee), La Crosse Municipal, Outagamie County (Appleton), and Wittman
Regional (Oshkosh). 

 

Aid To Displaced Airline Employees

To help provide assistance to dislocated workers from the airline and related industries, the Department of Workforce Development
has begun planning efforts to implement anticipated federal aid programs.  The federal government is expecting states to be ready to
initiate services once Congress passes the legislation.  It is anticipated that the new program would be administered through the
Workforce Development Boards and local job centers.  Approximately 13,800 people in Wisconsin are employed in the air travel
industry.  

 

Prison Plans Tested at Prairie du Chien Exercise

Staff from the Prairie du Chien Correctional Facility tested their emergency terrorism plans in a joint disaster exercise with Crawford
County and Prairie du Chien law enforcement and emergency agencies.  The scenario involved an explosion on the perimeter fence of the
institution which created a large breech.  Participants discussed issues from security measures to medical assistance.

 

State Government Business Continuity Planning

The Department of Electronic Government Business Recovery Section has completed a draft continuity planning template for use by
state and local agencies.  This template takes into account the effects of terrorism on a site, the staff, facilities and technology and
prepares them to deal with the disaster.

 

Governor's Task Force on Terrorism Preparedness

In closing, I want to offers my sincere condolences to Dr. Clarence Siroky and his family whose daughter, Wendy, passed away on
November 10.  Dr. Siroky is the State Veterinarian and a valued member of the Task Force on Terrorism Preparedness.  My thoughts and
prayers are with you and your family.

 

The next meeting of the Task Force will be on November 30.