News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 12, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Details Continued Homeland Security Efforts

CAMP MURRAY – March 12, 2003 – Gov. Gary Locke today detailed the state’s homeland security efforts currently underway to ensure the health and safety of Washington citizens.

“I’d like to begin by saying simply this: we are prepared. Washington state continues to be a leader among all states on homeland security issues,” Locke said at a news conference at the state’s Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray near Tacoma. “We have worked hard to bring together local, state and federal agencies to establish protocol and coordinate emergency training, funding and planning efforts.”

The governor applauded the collaborative effort of federal, state and local agencies in their work with regional first responder security training exercises and anti-terrorism programs. Since last September, Washington’s Emergency Management Division has added 30 homeland security programs that have already enrolled hundreds of first responders.

In November 1999, two years before the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Locke directed that a state Committee on Terrorism be established to address the state’s potential vulnerabilities as well as emergency responder needs and capabilities. Since then Washington state has used approximately $10.2 million in federal grant funding to purchase emergency equipment, including special equipment for first responders, and conduct regional table-top exercises.

The state is also in the process of distributing another $2 million in federal planning funds through homeland security regions statewide. Last Friday, the state was notified that the Department of Homeland Security had authorized $11.3 million for equipment, training, exercising and planning.

Still, this is far short of the funding the White House pledged to the states – some $3.5 billion for first-responder equipment and training for fiscal year 2003. States are still waiting for this vitally important funding, and Locke called on President Bush and Congress to release this funding, and to authorize at least an additional $3.5 billion for the upcoming year to help states be fully prepared.

“We need the federal government to fulfill its homeland security funding commitments to the states, including Washington,” Locke said.

Joining the governor to underline the state’s homeland security efforts were Glen Woodbury, director, Washington State Emergency Management; Chief Ronal Serpas, Washington State Patrol; Jac Davies, assistant secretary, Washington State Department of Health; and Valoria Loveland, director, Washington State Department of Agriculture.

“We have forged solid relationships with local and federal agencies, and have maintained a close working relationships with the new federal Department of Homeland Security,” said Woodbury. “These partnerships are vital to ensuring consistent communications exchanges for the prevention and response to any emergency situation.”

Locke also noted that Washington will participate in the U.S. Department of Justice and State Department’s TOPOFF 2 exercise in May 2003. This counter-terrorism training will involve both U.S. and Canadian first responders and national officials. TOPOFF, which stands for “Top Officials,” is a congressionally mandated exercise designed to test the country’s ability to respond to and manage acts of terrorism. Only two states are participating in the exercise.


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