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The Executive Session for Domestic Preparedness (ESDP) released two memos -- one aimed at Director of the Office for Homeland Security Tom Ridge and the other intended for the nation''s governors and mayors -- that outlined steps public officials can take to enhance domes tic preparedness for terrorism.
"As a former mayor and a former police chief, I can tell you that it is important to understand that we have some capabilities for fighting terrorism, but lack coordination," said Clarence Harmon , former mayor of St. Louis, Missouri and member of the ESDP. "These reports draw upon the expertise of emergency responders, federal officials, and academics who have thoroughly researched these topics for several years."
Ellen Gordon , Iowa''s Homeland Security Advisor and ESDP member, said, "At this time in our nation it is imperative that we have intergovernmental, interagency, as well as public and private cooperation and coordination. Having well developed and prepared response systems is key to every one''s ability to ensure that the nation is truly effective in our war on terrorism."
Among the specific recommendations contained in the reports:
· Local authorities are urged to create or support a high-level counterterrorism coordinating role to best utilize relevant resources;
· Health care and emergency response systems must consider nontraditional ways to buttress medical surge capacity to handle a mass-casualty event;
· Elected officials and response agencies must develop public affairs strategies to provide quick and reliable information to the public during and after a terrorist attack;
· Various federal and local law enforcement officials must work closer to share crucial intelligence information with the goal of preventing a terrorist attack;
· A high priority should be placed on improving both the capacity and inter operability of communications systems nationwide to function effectively in a disaster; and
· Staffing, skill levels, and technological components must be improved in the public health infrastructure in order to detect and identify a bioterrorism attack and to respond and quickly mitigate the impact of an outbreak.
The ESDP is a resource for federal, state, and local government officials, congressional committees, and others interested in reducing the threat of terrorism and minimizing the vulnerability of democratic societies to its effects.
http://www.esdp.org