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“We’ve
spent a great deal of time building up our ability to be prepared
for all sorts of terrorist threats. I believe we’ve done an
excellent job, and I want to commend the public safety professionals
who have worked tirelessly to secure our Illinois homeland,” Gov.
Ryan said. “It has been a tremendous team effort.”
Since
the beginning of Gov. Ryan’s administration, over $182 million has
been allocated through the
Illinois FIRST program for over 1,800 separate public safety
projects. This money has allowed local authorities to purchase
equipment to help rescuers who will first respond on the scene.
Illinois FIRST has also financed new projects and upgraded public
safety and security technology.
“While
it is true that on Sept. 11, 2001, our perspectives were forever
changed by the nearly unthinkable, the task and charge of Illinois
state government has remained the same: to protect the homeland and
be prepared to deal with any catastrophic event —whether it be the
result of natural or human causes,” Illinois Homeland Security
Director Matt Bettenhausen said.
In May
2000, Gov. Ryan signed an executive order convening the first
Illinois Terrorism Task Force, or ITTF, and charged it with assuring
that Illinois was ready to respond to an act of terrorism. Under the
direction of the ITTF, Illinois developed three State
Weapons of Mass Destruction Teams. These interagency response teams
are equipped to respond to an incident involving dangerous
chemicals, radiation leaks and fires, as well as the lingering
effects of a disaster. One of these teams was completely operational
prior to Sept. 11, with the other two becoming operational shortly
afterwards.
At the
briefing, members of the SWMD teams also provided demonstrations of
responses to potential biological, chemical, nuclear, explosive or
incendiary events. Cooperation between state agencies and local
police, fire and rescue departments was highlighted.
Gov.
Ryan said his administration also achieved a statewide mutual aid
agreement through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, or MABAS, and the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency before the terrorist
attacks. Under the agreement, the 32 hazmat teams throughout the
state, as well as firefighters, ambulances, EMTs and equipment from
hundreds of fire departments around the state, are available to
respond as a state asset anywhere within the state.
The
Illinois Department of Public Health had taken several steps to
prepare Illinois for possible medical and biological agent
emergencies. Under the department’s direction, Illinois developed
four Illinois Medical Emergency Response Teams. The mission of these
teams is to respond and assist with emergency medical treatment
during a mass casualty incident involving chemical, biological or
radiological incidents.
Before
last September, the Department of Public Health also had upgraded
its laboratories through grant money from the Centers for Disease
Control, enabling it to detect and analyze biological agents that
may be used in a terrorist attack.
Illinois
is home to the National Guard Fifth Civil Support Team,
transportable anywhere in the state and capable of responding to
events that include chemical, nuclear and biological weapons. The
support team consists of experts in chemical and biological warfare.
Additionally, these teams are equipped to detect and decontaminate
weapons of mass destruction events. The Illinois National Guard team
was the first in the nation to be certified on its first try.
Official certification by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was
on Aug. 29, 2001.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Since
last September, the Illinois Terrorism Task Force conducted a series
of 16 Homeland Security Regional Training Seminars throughout the
state in October and November of 2001. The seminars disseminated
important information regarding terrorist methods and Illinois’
resources and preparedness. An additional series of 18 homeland
security workshops for community leaders and first responders
continued the process throughout this past spring.
The
seminars led to the Homeland Security Summit on May 20 and 21 at the
University of Illinois at Springfield. The summit
resulted in several issue papers on themes such as command and
control, public information, funding, equipment, and training needs.
Both
state and federal money has supplemented Illinois’ terrorism
preparedness efforts. The state has appropriated or received over
$274 million in federal funds for homeland security efforts.
That
included the nearly $17 million that Gov. Ryan and the General
Assembly provided in a supplemental appropriation for specific
domestic preparedness projects. This money expanded the state
pharmaceutical stockpile and assisted the
Illinois Emergency
Management Agency, the
Illinois State Police, the
Department of Agriculture, the
Office of the State Fire Marshal and the
Illinois Fire Service Institute with equipment and training.
Illinois
received over $42 million from the United States Department of
Health and Human Services to bolster Illinois’ preparedness for
bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency and the United States Fire
Administration have provided Illinois fire departments with over $2
million worth of grants for equipment, prevention and training. In
the near future, Illinois will receive $10.6 million for equipment
purchases and exercise assistance from the Department of Justice.
The
governor said the state would seek more federal funding to further
reach its goals, including:
•
Federal Emergency Management
Agency-sponsored Urban Search and Rescue Team
•
Eighteen response regions, to bring
response time for specialized emergency teams under an hour
•
Expanded and integrated
telecommunications systems for both state and local public safety
agencies
•
Lake Michigan Coast Guard and Joint
Use Marine Safety Station near Navy Pier in Chicago
•
Expansion of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm
System
•
Creation of a Law Enforcement Mutual
Aid agreement modeled after the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
•
TOPOFF2 exercise in the spring of
2003
•
Expansion of President Bush’s Citizen
Corps homeland security volunteerism initiative.
“I can
promise the people of Illinois this: We will not rest until we have
done everything possible to secure our communities and protect our
families,” Gov. Ryan added.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release] |
|
Once completed, the new facility will
be used by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as the marine units of the
Chicago Police and
Fire Departments and the
Illinois Conservation Police. The state, city and federal
governments will share costs for the project.
Mayor Daley has long been interested in
bringing a rescue station back to Chicago. This joint-use project
was supported in the spring of 2001 by Rep. Biggert, R-Ill. Gov.
Ryan said his administration supported Biggert’s efforts to promote
the station then, but the project took much greater priority after
the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
"All of us in government began
reassessing our priorities after the despicable terrorist attacks,"
Gov. Ryan said. "We began looking at every possible vulnerability in
our infrastructure to ensure we were doing everything possible to
protect our citizens. Projects that were left on the drawing board
became more real."
The governor said the need for a
safety, search and rescue station for Chicago became even more acute
after the terrorist attacks.
"Mayor Daley has done so much to
enhance this lakefront into a world-class tourist destination. We
agreed last fall that this jewel needed a greater security
investment," Gov. Ryan said.
Since the Coast Guard left the old Navy
Pier station last decade, the nearest U.S. Coast Guard resources for
Lake Michigan rescues in downtown Chicago are in Burr Ridge,
Waukegan or Calumet Harbor. Those locations, according to the
governor, are “too distant in the event of an emergency.”
[to top of second column in
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The project benefited from the strong
support and assistance of Sen. Durbin, D-Ill., and House Speaker
Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. With their backing, Rep. Biggert was able to
secure $2 million in the 2002 fiscal year Coast Guard budget for the
Chicago Marine Safety Station. With that commitment from the federal
government, the city of Chicago was able to commit for its $2
million share. Gov. Ryan’s Illinois FIRST program was able to fund
the state’s share.
Details regarding space needs and
sharing have yet to be finalized. The Coast Guard, the city of
Chicago and the state Conservation Police are finalizing an
intergovernmental agreement.
Seventy-five percent of Lake Michigan
boating traffic occurs in the downtown Chicago area. All three
agencies have jurisdiction on Lake Michigan while having different
primary responsibilities. In emergencies they will be able to work
together to respond.
"I believe
this is another example of the kind of cooperation we have seen at
all levels of government to improve our homeland security," Gov.
Ryan said.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release]
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