New Dem Play | Multistate agreements to cooperate regionally in homeland security efforts.
Where It's Working | Eight Northeastern states; 12 Midwestern states
Players | State officials
There has been much discussion since 9/11 about the need for careful coordination of federal, state and local resources in homeland security. Vast progress has been made in most states in developing integrated systems for threat analysis and first response, but terrorist threats are not confined to single states, and state officials are beginning to focus on regional cooperation in various aspects of homeland security.
The first major multistate homeland security initiative was the Northeast States Emergency Consortium, launched in October 2002. NSEC, which includes eight states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont), fosters regional cooperation on a broad array of emergency management issues, including natural disasters and potential terrorist acts. The consortium has a permanent office and staff located in Massachusetts. Its services include hazard risk evaluation and assessment, public awareness and education, hazard mitigation, and information technology transfer.
A second regional initiative is focused on the specific challenge of protecting the country's agri-cultural infrastructure -- and ultimately, our food supply -- from potential terrorist threats as well as from natural disasters. Established in August 2003 in Des Moines, Iowa, the Multistate Partnership for Security in Agriculture includes 12 states (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin). Moreover, it encompasses the full spectrum of state agencies with a role in agricultural security, including departments of agriculture, state veterinarian's offices, homeland security advisors, and emergency management divisions.
Utilizing a $2 million federal grant, the Multistate Partnership began working on five specific tasks: risk communication materials on animal and crop emergency response; coordination of agricultural emergency response plans; identification of best practices for handling crop, livestock, and food emergencies; training and exercise initiatives; and information sharing.
Unfortunately, the Bush administration has been unable to come up with a workable means of making homeland security grant funds available to multi-state organizations, seriously inhibiting their development. Clearly, regional cooperation in homeland security is more essential than ever, and should become a higher priority at both the federal and state levels.
Multistate Parntnership for Security in Agriculture
www.agpartnership.org/
Edward S. Fratto
Executive Director
Northeast States Emergency Management
Consortium
1 West Water Street
Suite 205
Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 224-9876
http://www.nsec.org
Ann Garvey DVM, MPH
Iowa Department of Public Health
(515)281-4933
agarvey@idph.state.ia.us
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