Director James Dismisses Claims
of DPS Inaction
JEFFERSON CITY, April 3, 2006-Paul Fennewald, Missouri
Homeland Security Coordinator, testified Thursday to the Joint Committee
on Terrorism, Bioterrorism and Homeland Security about the specific
improvements made to the pre-existing State Emergency Operating Plan,
as well as other homeland security and public safety initiatives over
the past year.
It marks the second time in less than four months the
Department of Public Safety has testified before Rep. Jack Jackson,
chairman of the joint committee, on the intense preparations the department
has led to handle catastrophic events such as a New Madrid earthquake,
a pandemic flu outbreak or a major terrorist attack in Missouri. Again
after a briefing session to the entire committee and local media Rep.
Jackson has chided the Department of Public Safety claiming he has
not seen any results from the Blunt Administration.
“I am deeply concerned with the apparent lack
of understanding of the committee leader on the numerous planning
efforts we have undertaken,” James said. “This department
continues to make up for seven years of inactivity on the earthquake
issue while simultaneously increasing terrorist response capability
and preparation for a pandemic. Furthermore we have established the
Missouri Information and Analysis Center (MIAC), the state’s
first-ever intelligence and information fusion center.”
Below are bulleted points highlighting recent specific
action items the Department of Public Safety has undertaken to make
Missouri more prepared and responsive:
· The draft Catastrophic Event (Earthquake) Annex
to the State Emergency Operations Plan was delivered to Department
of Public Safety Director on Friday, March 31, 2006. This annex supplements
the State Emergency Operations Plan, a more general all-hazards plan
that addresses tornadoes, flooding, hazardous material, and terrorism
response. The State Emergency Operations Plan was last updated in
2005 but a specific earthquake annex had not been updated for seven
years.
· After the Catastrophic Event Annex is approved,
SEMA will share the plans and continue their previous work with the
Emergency Management Directors in the 47 counties most likely to be
impacted by an event on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. SEMA leadership
has already had numerous discussions with Southeast Missouri officials
on this issue to include participating in town hall meetings.
· SEMA responded quickly and fully to over 100
tornadoes that ripped through Missouri in addition to the Taum Sauk
Dam collapse recently proving the state has a strong emergency response
plan.
· The Callaway Nuclear Plant Emergency Preparedness
Security Exercise on March 1, 2006 was the first pilot security exercise
of this type in the entire U.S. Participants included SEMA, the Missouri
State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Water Patrol, Missouri National
Guard, Missouri Department of Transportation, Cole and Callaway County
Sheriff’s Departments, the FBI and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
· Under the Blunt Administration the Missouri
Seismic Safety Commission has been revitalized. The Commission is
now fully functioning and coordinating with SEMA in preparing a series
of earthquake preparedness recommendations to be presented to the
governor and Legislature.
· Missouri Homeland Security and the Department
of Health and Senior Services are partnering in the pandemic influenza
planning effort. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
given the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services $1.8 million
for Missouri Preparedness Planning.
· In 2005 SEMA conducted full-scale exercises
with all Missouri Homeland Security Response Teams (HSRT) to test
plans, training, equipment, and response capabilities to terrorist
threats.
· In February 2006, 12 Homeland Security Response
Teams participated in a regional full-scale exercise in Rolla. The
exercise tested notification, travel time, and a coordinated response
to a terrorism event.
· A full-scale terrorist exercise with the City
of St. Louis will be conducted this summer. The City of St. Louis
and the State Emergency Operation Plan will be tested.
· SEMA is also planning a federal catastrophic
earthquake exercise in June 2007.
After Director James testified in December 2005 to the
joint committee, DPS put out a news release outlining the extensive
progress the department has made to address all possible threats to
Missouri including man-made and natural disasters. The December release
is being re-released with this copy.