MAHONING VALLEY Lieutenant governor explains state view on security

The lieutenant governor is Ohio's main link to the new federal homeland security office.
By ROGER G. SMITH
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LIBERTY -- When disaster strikes -- terrorism or otherwise -- it's local emergency workers who are squarely at the forefront.
Getting those police, fire, ambulance and emergency management agencies what they need is part of Ohio's approach to homeland security, said Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor.
"Those responders have to have the equipment and the capacity," she said.
O'Connor explained the state's position on security since Sept. 11. She spoke to several hundred people Thursday at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at the Holiday Inn MetroPlex here.
O'Connor is director of the state Department of Safety. She also is Ohio's main link to the new federal Office of Homeland Security.
Funding: The state is waiting to see how the White House's proposed $3.6 billion in homeland security spending is distributed, she said.
Meanwhile, the state is doling out some of its own money and some recent federal funding to shore up response, O'Connor said.
For example, much of $1.9 million in federal money will buy equipment for some local police and fire departments. Some emergency management agencies will share $250,000 for planning and training for terrorist events.
An additional $5.39 million will be available later to all county emergency management agencies through grants, she said.
Also, the state has freed up $35 million for the state health department -- which was overrun with samples during the anthrax scare -- and for grants to local health departments, O'Connor said.
Regional plan: Regional cooperation among agencies is another strategy, she said. For example, top-notch local search and rescue teams might become part of a larger regional response plan.
"This isn't an isolated approach," O'Connor said. "Those are tremendous assets that shouldn't stand alone."
All the spending and preparations aren't exclusive to terrorism, either. The results can be applied when natural disasters hit, too, she said.
Whatever happens in the near future, it won't be enough money to cover the needs and it won't be the end of preparations, O'Connor said.
"It's not going to be over in six months or a year. It will be a part of our lives for years go come," she said. "I think this is going to be on the front burner for a long time."
rgsmith@vindy.com