MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today accepted a report from Brigadier General Don Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin and Wisconsin’s Homeland Security Advisor, on Wisconsin's overall homeland security readiness. The report outlines the efforts Wisconsin is taking to prevent and respond to potential emergencies and reviews some of the major events such as the summer floods and winter storms that hit the state this past year.
“The Homeland Security report I am receiving today confirms that Wisconsin’s emergency management efforts are strong, and that we continue to improve our preparedness efforts,” Governor Doyle said. “Our devastating flooding in June showed we are equipped and ready to respond. However, we must continue to constantly update our plans, continue to train our first responders and improve communications among agencies and with the public.”
Some of the highlights of this year’s annual report include:
Enhanced regional collaboration in both emergency planning and response. Communities continue to plan, work and respond together to keep our citizens safe. Our devastating floods in June showed how all levels of government, private sector and non-profit agencies were working together to fight the floodwaters.
Strong information sharing and collaboration. The state continues to work with our first responders to make sure systems are in place to ensure they have access to critical information when needed.
Homeland Security funding. In the last year, Wisconsin has received a 10% reduction in federal homeland security funding, from $17.8 million in FY 2007 to our recent award of $16 million.
Training. In 2007, more than 5,000 first responders and local officials participated in emergency management training courses and more than 7,000 people participated in emergency management exercises across the state.
Public health preparedness. Public health officials at the state and local level continue to work to develop effective emergency plans and procedures. Many of those plans were used this spring to address the threat of contaminated wells and the spread of mold following the massive flooding in southern Wisconsin
Governor Doyle also announced he is expanding the council to include representation from local first responder organizations – fire chiefs, sheriffs, and police chiefs – as well as a cyber-security representative. In 2003, Governor Doyle created the Homeland Security Council to advise him of ongoing homeland security preparedness efforts in the state. The Governor announced three of the new members of the Council as Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney; Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, and Department of Administration Division of Enterprise Technology Administrator Oskar Anderson. The fire chiefs’ representative will be named at a later date.
To view the 2008 Report on Wisconsin Homeland Security visit: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=14811.
