$100 million aimed at (Alaska) state security
Knowles announces anti-terrorism initiative.
adn.com
By Mary Pemberton
The Associated Press
(Published: November 13, 2001)
Gov. Tony Knowles announced a nearly $100 million initiative Monday to better prepare Alaska for a possible terrorist attack.
The governor, speaking before the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce during a tribute to Alaska veterans, said the initiative would improve the state's ability to detect and respond to biological and chemical terrorism.
The initiative calls for creating an Alaska Office of Homeland Security to be led by Major Gen. Phillip Oates, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The office will coordinate state efforts with federal and local agencies.
The governor estimated that through fiscal year 2003, the initiative would cost $43 million in state funds, $40 million in federal funds and $16 million in other funds.
Knowles said he will send an appropriations bill to the Legislature this week and hopes hearings on the bill can be held before the start of the session on Jan. 14. The governor wants action taken on the bill in the first two weeks.
America is at war, Knowles told the roomful of veterans. "I can't emphasize enough the urgency of action on this critical measure for the safety of our state."
Knowles acknowledged that the availability of federal funds is uncertain. He said it could come in the form of supplemental federal agency budgets, existing grant programs, a national economic stimulus package or next year's federal budget.
The initiative stems from the governor's Disaster Policy Cabinet, led by Oates, which began meeting about two weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Members evaluated the vulnerability of some of Alaska's key assets, including the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, the port of Valdez and military installations.
The initiative calls for the development of a state plan for detecting and responding to biological terrorism. The five-point plan would improve the security of Alaska's communications, transportation and public utilities systems. It also would improve the state's ability to respond to a terrorist attack.
Under the plan, nearly 70 state troopers and 20 village public safety officers would be hired, 20 part-time firefighters would be added to urban areas, and the Alaska Land Mobile Radio System would be updated so federal, state and local agencies could communicate with one another during an emergency.
The plan calls for decontamination trailers in six cities, a contractor to develop bioterrorism drills and a medical plan to transport mass casualties.
The plan also calls for park rangers providing full-time security for the watershed in Chugach State Park, security cameras at Whittier and Seward docks, and decontamination equipment in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Training and equipment would be provided to hazmat teams in Juneau, Valdez and Fairbanks; triage kits would be supplied for emergency medical providers; and public health nurses would be hired.
"There is an increased price of freedom in this new era of terrorism," Knowles said. |
