The issues and requirements that the Task Force has identified are:
ISSUE 1. Emphasize Training, Equipment, and Preparedness of Local Responders.
Local and tribal jurisdictions are only as ready as they are on a day-to-day basis. Montana's Three-Year Statewide Domestic Preparedness Strategy has identified the current response and preparedness status and the recommended response and preparedness. Implementation tasks are identified to fill the "needs" gap.
ISSUE 2. Facilitate Communications, Coordination, and Planning in All Levels of Government.
The Task Force has identified that it is critical to coordinate between state agencies and with local, tribal, and federal agencies to eliminate duplicate efforts throughout the state and the nation.
Since September 11, state preparedness and responding to unknown hazardous materials has been deemed a high priority without being granted additional resources and lack of a clear priority over normal job duties and current allocated resources. State agencies' ability to respond to requests and needs has been stretched beyond their current personnel and financial resources. State agencies have a lack of personnel depth in preparing for and responding to the scope of a terrorism incident. Agencies are addressing their lack of personnel, funding, overall coordination, and prioritization of duties and responsibilities to maintain readiness and respond to one or more incidents.
ISSUE 3. Build Partnerships with Existing Commissions and Task Forces on Terrorism, Security, and Hazardous Materials.
The Task Force has also reached out to existing responder, special interest, state, and private industry organizations along with members of the public through a comprehensive mailing list. A discussion paper outlining the Task Force's mission and objectives and a survey and the survey responses has been sent through the mailing list.
ISSUE 4. Proactively Conduct Investigations and Intelligence Operations.
Montana is limited by its resources to collect, analyze, and disseminate criminal threat information to law enforcement agencies. Our limited capabilities force us to be reactive in our response efforts rather than proactive to the public's safety needs. An assessment identified domestic terrorism being Montana's greatest threat.
ISSUE 5. Provide Effective Public Information on Homeland Security.
State government has an organized public information network between state agencies. This public information network is being used to relay information to the public concerning the Homeland Security Task Force. All state agencies are aware of the task force's efforts, the public is aware of its efforts, and Montana's contributions are being shared throughout the nation.
ISSUE 6. Foster a strong, member-valued task force organization.
Participation in this task force is voluntary and affected by normal day-to-day activities. Consistency is very important for this task force in our efforts to coordinate the detection, preparation, prevention, protection, response, and recovery for homeland security.
The level of preparedness in the State of Montana is a matter of public policy to prevent, prepare, and respond to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction acts. These incidents occur in and are the responsibility of the local jurisdiction but the effects are at a minimum statewide and interstate. Terrorism acts may also have potential international effects.
U.S. color-coded alert system
The government's color-coded system for assessing terrorist threats is divided into five risk levels. The levels and suggested response for law enforcement are:
Green (low): check facilities for vulnerability to terrorist attack; train personnel.
Blue (guarded): review emergency response procedures; give public information.
Yellow (elevated): increase surveillance of critical locations; implement contingency and emergency plans.
Orange (high): coordinate security with armed forces restrict access to threatened sites; take additional precautions at public events.
Red (severe): close public and government facilities; monitor or close airports; increase or redirect emergency personnel.
The State of Montana has been very proactive in preparing and training for terrorism. Disaster & Emergency Services, in conjunction with Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice, has sponsored terrorism conferences since 1998 dealing with bio-terrorism, cyber-terrorism, federal and state agency response roles, consequences of terrorist acts, terrorism mindset, and critical stress management. Participation in this training had been voluntary and sporadic, based on the belief that a significant terrorist act could never happen here. Sept 11th provided us with a sobering reality and elevated the need to be comprehensively prepared.