Security panel assumes higher profile

Monday, Dec. 10, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A state committee that has operated in relative obscurity for the past two years has taken on a higher profile since the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Gov. Kenny Guinn created the committee in 1999 to develop a plan to prepare the state for terrorist attacks. It was named the Weapons of Mass Destruction Steering Committee.

It has quietly passed through $2 million in federal funds to local governments for training and equipment of those who must respond first to any emergency.

About 300 "first responders" have been trained, Frank Siracusa, chief of the state Division of Emergency Management, said. They include police, firefighters, hazardous materials teams and doctors, nurses and other medical providers.

The money has also been used for such things as the purchase of protective clothing and meters to measure radioactivity.

The federal government is getting ready to distribute more money to help states prepare to meet emergencies. Nevada has filed its application for a piece of that money, Siracusa said, but he doesn't have any idea how much the state will receive from the new allocation.

To dovetail with the federal government, the group has been renamed the Homeland Security Committee, and it includes representatives from the federal, state and local governments.

The committee's next meeting is Wednesday in Carson City. Members will discuss such topics as medical response systems in urban areas and determining the minimum requirements for public safety equipment.

"We're much ahead of the curve compared to other states," said Siracusa, who added that Nevada has completed its three-year strategic plan to deal with such disasters as the recent anthrax scares. Other states are still trying to put together their plans, he said.

The three-year plan, submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice on Oct. 31 for grant money, details what needs to be done for the state to be better prepared. Each county reports what are the likely targets, how many people are trained to respond to the emergencies, what type of equipment is available and other information.

That plan was due Dec. 15.

The state is "very well" prepared to meet the normal emergencies, but not those of the magnitude that hit New York City, Siracusa said. More training is needed for hospitals and physicians to handle the threat of bioterrorism, he said.

That was evident recently when deadly anthrax spores were sent through the mail. One letter suspected of being contaminated went to a Microsoft Corp. office in Reno. It was the first time the state health lab ever tested for anthrax, Siracusa said.

The state lab initially showed the specimen was anthrax. Subsequent tests showed it was a similar spore, but not deadly, illustrating the need for the state to have more sophisticated equipment, Siracusa said.

The state lab also was overwhelmed with requests for tests from residents reporting white substances.

In addition to the three-year plan, the state has an emergency plan that shows how it will help local governments during an emergency. For instance, the state Transportation Department may have a plan to help local governments keep the highways open or emergency repair plans for roads.

"You can never be too prepared," Siracusa said.

Counties have submitted lists to the state committee on what might be potential targets in time of attack. Siracusa is reluctant to discuss specifics, but said it includes such things as utilities, water supplies and dams.

Local governments submit their requests to the committee for federal funds. The applications are reviewed and the committee then decides on the grant awards.

Despite Nevada's head start in preparation, Siracusa says the state has only "touched the tip of the iceberg" in getting ready for possible attacks.