Tuesday, Sept. 10

 

Gov. Ryan, state officials present update on homeland security in Illinois

Illinois’ Terrorism Task Force commended for over two years of service

[SEPT. 10, 2002]  CHICAGO — Gov. George Ryan along with Illinois Homeland Security Director Matthew Bettenhausen, state agency directors, and state and local law enforcement officials announced on Friday the progress of Illinois’ homeland security preparation since the heinous attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“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.

 

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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]

9-11-01

Fallen but not Forgotten

9-11-02

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Officials announce new Navy Pier
marine safety and rescue station

State, city, federal government to fund lakefront facility

[SEPT. 10, 2002]  CHICAGO — Gov. George Ryan, Mayor Richard M. Daley, U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin joined the U.S. Coast Guard in committing $6 million for a new state-of-the-art, joint-use marine safety and search and rescue station at Navy Pier.

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.”

 

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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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