A commission that studied the state?s readiness for terrorist attacks released its report today. The New Hampshire Commission on Preparedness and Security found the state needs more hazardous materials response teams, more protective clothing for police and firefighters, and better communications systems. NHPR?s Trish Anderton reports.
RESPONSE NHT ANDERTON 11-27-01
A commission that studied the state?s readiness for terrorist attacks released its report today. The New Hampshire Commission on Preparedness and Security found the state needs more hazardous materials response teams, more protective clothing for police and firefighters, and better communications systems. NHPR?s Trish Anderton reports.
TIME: 2:16
SOQ
A/V: PREPARED
THE REPORT FINDS THE STATE?S EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM GENERALLY WORKS WELL. BUT THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A WIDE RANGE OF IMPROVEMENTS, MANY FOCUSING ON HELPING AUTHORITIES REACT TO LARGE-SCALE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES. STATE FIRE MARSHAL DON BLISS CHAIRED THE COMMISSION.
We?ve emphasized a number of areas for improvement, one being additional training and equipment for local responders, for improvements in the coverage of our hazardous material response teams throughout the state, since there are areas that are not covered, and we?ve asked local communities to improve their evacuation and sheltering plans.
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE SMALL, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH ROAD MARKERS TO DIRECT TRAFFIC DURING AN EMERGENCY. OTHERS INVOLVE BIGGER COMMITMENTS, SUCH AS EXPANDING THE STATE?S PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES AND STOCKING UP ON MOBILE DECONTAMINATION EQUIPMENT. AND SOME WILL REQUIRE DETAILED PLANNING. FOR EXAMPLE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER DONALD SHUMWAY SAYS PREPARING FOR DISEASE OUTBREAKS DOESN?T JUST MEAN MAKING SURE THE STATE HAS ENOUGH HOSPITAL BEDS.
in some cases we might ask people not to go to hospitals, but to be cared for at home. That?s a way to prevent the spread of disease and provide the particular kinds of support required. So we?ll be meeting with doctors and health officials around the state to nail down our response to each issue that might present.
THE COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDS CREATING A STATEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK TO LINK GOVERNMENT, FIRE, POLICE AND HEALTH SERVICES. THE REPORT DOESN?T INCLUDE A PRICE TAG FOR ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN SAYS THAT WILL HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD.
Obvioulsy we need to continue working on that. And I assume that there will be some costs to state, some to local communities, and we would hope the federal government will pick up their fair share.
SHAHEEN SAYS THE STATE WILL PRIORITIZE ITS NEEDS, WITH ADDITIONAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAMS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. SHE NOTES SOME IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, SUCH AS INCREASED SECURITY AT THE BORDER AND ALONG THE SEACOAST. FOR NHPR NEWS, I?M
