News
8 February 2002
Governor Scott McCallum's Summary of Wisconsin Terrorism Preparedness Efforts for this Week
Responding to the September 11th Terrorist Attacks:
Wisconsin’s Terrorism Preparedness Efforts
February 8, 2002 Report
Monday will mark the five-month anniversary of a day, September 11 that has changed our world forever. Who would have thought we would need
military jets patrolling our skies, military troops at the Super Bowl and Olympics providing security, and identification cards required to get into
buildings. These security measures are necessary. If one thing was learned from 9-11, it is that we must never let our guard down, and never get
complacent. We must remain vigil for the safety of our nation.
Local Emergency Responders to Receive $2.6 Million in Equipment Grants
On Wednesday, February 6, I released $2.6 million in federal grants to Wisconsin counties to buy terrorism preparedness
equipment. The funding is a result of Wisconsin’s aggressive efforts to gain federal approval for its Statewide Domestic
Preparedness Strategic Plan.
The grants, which range from $12,000 to $309,200, will be used to buy personal protective, detection and monitoring, and
communications equipment. The money will be sent to county emergency management offices for distribution to local law
enforcement, fire departments, public works, public health and EMS. Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) received
approval for the equipment grants from the federal Office of Justice Preparedness. WEM has been working with representatives of
fire, emergency management and law enforcement agencies to develop consistent, fair and justifiable guidelines for grant distribution.
The distribution is based on potential threats, response and needs capabilities. Local agencies should contact their county emergency
management office for information on applying for these equipment grants.
Terrorism Funding Distribution
· Milwaukee County
$309,200
· Price County
$23,200
· Dane County
$165,600
· Grant County
$22,000
· Brown County
$83,200
· Monroe County
$21,600
· Kewaunee County
$49,600
· Waupaca County
$21,600
· Waukesha County
$48,000
· Door County
$21,600
· Manitowoc County
$47,200
· Pierce County
$21,600
· Racine County
$47,200
· St. Croix County
$21,600
· Douglas County
$45,600
· Barron County
$21,200
· Kenosha County
$44,000
· Calumet County
$21,200
· La Crosse County
$38,400
· Crawford County
$21,200
· Washington County
$36,800
· Bayfield County
$20,400
· Ozaukee County
$36,000
· Green County
$20,000
· Sheboygan County
$35,200
· Iowa County
$20,000
· Winnebago County
$35,200
· Lincoln County
$20,000
· Rock County
$33,600
· Richland County
$20,000
· Jefferson County
$32,800
· Marinette County
$19,200
· Sauk County
$32,800
· Shawano County
$19,200
· Outagamie County
$32,000
· Waushara County
$18,400
· Walworth County
$31,200
· Lafayette County
$18,400
· Fond du Lac County
$30,800
· Green Lake County
$17,600
· Ashland County
$29,600
· Oneida County
$17,600
· Chippewa County
$29,600
· Jackson County
$17,600
· Juneau County
$28,800
· Forest County
$16,800
· Washburn County
$28,800
· Sawyer County
$16,800
· Columbia County
$28,000
· Taylor County
$16,800
· Adams County
$28,000
· Dodge County
$12,000
· Eau Claire County
$26,400
· Dunn County
$12,000
· Wood County
$25,600
· Florence County
$12,000
· Clark County
$24,800
· Langlade County
$12,000
· Rusk County
$24,800
· Marquette County
$12,000
· Marathon County
$24,000
· Buffalo County
$12,000
· Vernon County
$24,000
· Menominee County
$12,000
· Iron County
$24,000
· Oconto County
$12,000
· Portage County
$23,200
· Pepin County
$12,000
· Burnett County
$23,200
· Trempealeau County
$12,000
· Polk County
$23,200
· Vilas County
$12,000
In addition, another $360,000 will be distributed to Wisconsin’s 35 county hazardous materials teams. Last month, WEM
distributed $340,000 in federal grants to the county teams to buy terrorism response equipment.
Bioterrorism Grant will Help Public Health
Last week, Wisconsin was awarded $19 million in federal funds to the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) for bioterrorism
preparedness. These funds are intended to:
· Upgrade infectious disease surveillance and investigation
· Enhance the readiness of hospital systems to deal with large numbers of casualties
· Expand public health laboratories and communications system capacities
The funds represent vital investments in our nation's public health and hospital preparedness. Of this, $16.7 million
will be allocated for public health and $2.3 million will be allocated for hospitals. DHFS plans to distribute 20% of the
funding immediately to public health and hospitals, the remaining will be released after the public health and hospital
plans are submitted and approved by the Centers for Disease Control.
Challenges and Lessons Learned After 9-11
On February 7-8, WEM Administrator Ed Gleason traveled to New York City to participate in a National Emergency Management Association
Terrorism Committee meeting. Briefings from state and city emergency management directors focused on the challenges faced in the aftermath of
September 11. Key points made:
1. Command and control begins locally.
2. It’s important to take time now to build partnerships throughout your response community.
3. Need for interoperability of communications and need for response agencies to have preeminence of cell phone use during emergencies
4. Continuity of government planning needs to be reviewed. Redundancy of operations so there are adequate backups in the event the primary
site is damaged.
5. The benefits of exercising emergency plans cannot be overstated.
6. Work with the business community to ensure business operations have continuity plans. (In NYC, estimated insurance losses are $40 to $70
billion).
7. Do not overlook external communications. Keep your citizens informed.
There was also a visit to the site of the World Trade Center where 1.2 million tons of debris has been removed so far. Following the 1993 bombing at
the World Trade Center, 6,900 tons of debris was removed. Officials say that amount is now being removed daily. They hope to have the site cleaned
by May.
Wisconsin National Guard Unit Comes Home
I am pleased to welcome home today 30 members of the Wisconsin National Guard. Members of Milwaukee’s 128th air refueling
wing are expected back in Wisconsin today with their KC-135 aircraft. Unit members have been overseas as part of Operation
Enduring Freedom. Yesterday, another rotation of one aircraft and about 30 personnel from the 128th were deployed to an
overseas location. More than 730 members of the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard are on active duty.
Scott McCallum
Governor of the State of Wisconsin