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

 
Responding to the September 11 Terrorist Attacks:
Wisconsin's Terrorism Preparedness Efforts
November 30, 2001 Report


Since September 11, I have ordered numerous security measures at state
buildings including the Capitol.  I want to ensure that citizens, elected
officials and Capitol staff can work in a safe environment and that steps we
take make a positive difference.  This week, I requested that the Building
Commission decide against erecting a chain fence around the Capitol grounds.
I believe the installation of this fence would not provide enough added
security to justify the cost of $1.4 million.  I agreed with commission
members to spend an estimated $30,000 to study and design a way to erect
retractable posts at three of the Capitol's driveways that could be raised
and lowered hydraulically to restrict vehicles that could potentially
endanger the Capitol.

The Wisconsin State Capitol is the people's building.  Since the tragedies
of September 11, it is even more important to enjoy this great building and
grounds by continuing to hold farmer's markets, concerts, and other events.
A chain fence would impede these Wisconsin traditions.  It is important to
find an even balance to provide security and still allow access to this
historical landmark.
Below are some of the outreach efforts by various state and local agencies
in the past week.

Governors Task Force on Terrorism Preparedness
Wisconsin has been at the forefront of health care for many years.
Continuing to provide emergency health care was the focus of the November 30
meeting of the Governor's Task Force on Terrorism Preparedness.  Dr. Stephen
Hartgarten outlined a vision to implement a trauma system throughout
Wisconsin to meet regional needs.  Members would include physicians, EMS,
hospital, public health, law enforcement, fire, and emergency management.
In a major medical emergency, the regional trauma system would broaden
capacity of the response and enhance communications.  

Milwaukee County has benefited from an emergency medical surveillance system
developed by Infinity Health Care.  Milwaukee was the first city to have
direct links with all area hospitals, EMS, public health, and emergency
management located on a secure Internet data system.  The emergency medical
surveillance system allows emergency response agencies to share information,
such as, if a hospital is closed, if there is a health alert, or other
emergencies or information.  This system is now being used in over 20 other
cities and states around the nation.  This system has real potential for
statewide trauma coordination.  It would provide services 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, is relatively inexpensive to implement, and would enhance
communications among medical facilities.  The Task Force will continue to
explore its utility in Wisconsin.  

Keeping Wisconsin's food supply safe and agricultural industry secure will
be the focus of a meeting scheduled in mid-December.  Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Secretary Harsdorf shared
with task force members that DATCP is working with representatives from the
feed and seed and food processing industries to discuss these critical
issues. Any type of threat would not only affect public health but also
could cause major economic losses for the state.

Dr. Clarence Siroky, State Veterinarian, has has met with other states and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture to discuss foreign animal diseases and
the federal/state emergency response plans.  Wisconsin has updated its
emergency animal plans as a result of last spring's Foot and Mouth outbreak
in Europe.

Department of Health and Family Services is evaluating current state public
health laws against the ideas identified by the draft Model State Emergency
Health Powers Act prepared by Johns Hopkins and Georgetown Universities, in
collaboration with the National Governor's Association and others.  It was
generally believed the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act should be
treated as a menu for ideas and be used to augment and strengthen current
laws rather than adopt in its entirety.

The next Task Force meeting will be the week of January 7, 2002.  During the
interim, task force members will continue to advance initiatives that raise
preparedness efforts in Wisconsin.

Public Health Concerns Addressed
On November 29, Department of Health and Family Services met with local,
regional and state public health officials in Wisconsin Rapids.  The meeting
was titled "Government Leaders in Public Health - Addressing the Threat of
Bioterrorism in Wisconsin".  The meeting covered state and local public
health needs to address bioterrorism and discussed various response plans. 

Public health staff from Dane County, City of Madison and U.S. Health and
Human Services participated in a program for health care professionals from
the Madison area on November 29.  The program, "Terrorism - Mobilizing our
Health Care Assets," focused on disease surveillance, public health response
and available federal resources.  The meeting was presented by Dane County
Emergency Management, Wisconsin Medical Society and the Dane County Medical
Society.

Protecting our Water
Water systems remain on a high level of alert pursuant to the FBI advisory.
No incidents have been reported to the Public Service Commission by
Wisconsin water utilities concerning system safety.  

Department of Natural Resources has prepared a letter to U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Whitman requesting that the EPA focus
on the vulnerability of the drinking water systems and what might be done to
improve water systems security.
 
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure to establish
the Center for Water Security to be located at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  The Center would develop a research program for rapid
detection of biological pathogens, contaminants and foreign agents in water
supply systems.  In addition, the Center would help develop an emergency
preparedness plan for a biological terrorist attack of the water supply.
The U.S. Senate must still pass the measure.
 
Protecting Wisconsin Power Plants
The nuclear power plants in Wisconsin remain at the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission's (NRC) maximum-security level.  

At the Zion Nuclear Power Plant, which is near the Wisconsin-Illinois
border, security is also at its highest level.  The plant, which has been
shut down for the past four years, has added low-lying razor wire, aircraft
cabling, concrete serpentine barriers and numerous detection systems.  The
FAA has a mandatory "no fly" zone over all nuclear plants/decommissioned
plants and the U.S. Coast Guard has a security zone restricting boats within
1000 feet of all nuclear plants/decommissioned plants.

The spent fuel rods will remain stored at Zion through 2025.  The spent fuel
rods are stored in casks/bunkers located throughout the grounds.  NRC
officials have stated to both Kenosha and Lake Counties that if a release
should ever occur, the spent fuel rods will pose, "no off-site impact."

Training Sessions for Law Enforcement   
To make sure Wisconsin law enforcement officers are prepared to respond to a
terrorism threat, the Department of Justice is sponsoring six regional
domestic security training sessions.  On November 28, about 100 law
enforcement officers participated in the first training session held in
Madison. 

Addressing Concerns of Agricultural Aviation (Crop Dusters)
On November 28, Wisconsin Department of Transportation held a meeting to
discuss security concerns and public perception of Wisconsin's agricultural
aviation businesses and pilots.  Also attending were officials from
Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Emergency
Management, the Federal Aviation Administration and agricultural aviation
business owners.  There are approximately 25 applicators licensed in
Wisconsin, 16 are based in our state, and 100 pilots that are licensed in
the state to perform agricultural aviation services.  

The state was told that most of the businesses are family owned and employ
seasoned pilots. The airstrips are also well-controlled and not easy to
trespass.  In addition, agricultural planes are not easy to fly and hold
only the pilot.  The planes are locked up in hangars when not in service and
during the off-season, many businesses remove the propellers, distributor
caps and other parts to prevent aircraft theft.  

The state will assist with educating the public about safety measures with
regards to agricultural aviation.  In addition, DOT Bureau of Aeronautics
will work with the Wisconsin Agricultural Aviation group to make sure
members are informed of closed airspace and other aeronautic and safety
information.

Specialized Rescue Team Ready to Assist
As Governor, I appreciate the number of well-trained and well-equipped
emergency response teams located around the state ready to help save lives.
In Wisconsin, we are fortunate to have the Milwaukee Fire Department's Heavy
Urban Rescue Team (HURT).  HURT members respond to emergency incidents
involving high and low-angle technical rescues, trench collapses, confined
space emergencies, structural collapses and deep tunnel rescues.  

Team members undergo numerous hours of training each month in search and
rescue, hazardous materials and emergency response.  The multiple
disciplines of the team could have members respond to a high-angle rescue
400 feet above the ground or a deep tunnel emergency 300 feet below the
surface of city streets.  In the event of a terrorist attack, such as a
building explosion, this team would be able to help local responders with
rescue efforts.  With over 75% of all domestic terrorist events having a
structural integrity component, there is a heightened awareness by team
members toward these issues.  Having a well trained, well-equipped rescue
team is vital to our terrorism preparedness efforts.
 
Government Business Recovery Plans
Cyber-terrorism is one of a number of threats to the state.  Computers and
data systems are threatened daily with attacks from hackers, organized crime
and mischief-makers.  To assure Wisconsin meets the needs and earns the
confidence of its citizens and business partners, securing our computing
environment is critical.

The Department of Electronic Government will soon publish disaster recovery
for information technology and business resumption planning templates for
use by state and local agencies.  These templates are based on the templates
used for Y2K contingency planning and take into account the effects of
terrorism or other disasters on a site, the staff, facilities and
technology. They will be available on the wisconsin.gov
http://www.wisconsin.gov  website by mid-December.