Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Avagene Moore: This is an exciting day for all of us. The EIIP Board of Directors, Amy and I trust you share our feelings - it feels good to be here! You are here and that indicates a great deal about your interest in this form of networking and sharing information. We appreciate your presence today! Avagene Moore: Our topic today is "Homeland Security in the Heartland." Before giving more information about our presentation and our speaker, we will quickly go through some information relative to conduct of the EIIP Virtual Forum. Avagene Moore: Our speaker's bio plus links to various Web sites and information related to today's session are available at http://www.emforum.org/vforum/011128.htm . Please look at the URL later. Avagene Moore: For newcomers to the Virtual Forum, when you see a blue web address, you can click on it and the referenced Web page will appear in a browser window. Our speaker will use a few URLs in her presentation. Avagene Moore: After you are done viewing, bring your chat window back to the top. After the first link, the browser window may not come to the top automatically, so you will need to bring it forward. Avagene Moore: We will begin today with a formal presentation, followed by an interactive Q&A session. We will provide the protocol for submitting questions when we start that section. Avagene Moore: It is a pleasure to host today's session. Since September 11, 2001, there has been no shortage of public officials, practitioners and experts discussing terrorism and counter-terrorism from all perspectives. Avagene Moore: For our session today, we felt it would be beneficial to hear from someone in the throes of preparing, planning, and training for the threat of terrorism at the State and Local level. Avagene Moore: Our speaker today is very much involved with all of the above. As the Administrator of Iowa Emergency Management, our special guest is also the Homeland Security Advisor for her State as well as a member of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism. Avagene Moore: Please help me welcome Ellen Gordon -- thank you for joining us today, Ellen. Before we begin our interview, perhaps you would like to say hello to our audience. I know they are eager to hear from you. Avagene Moore: Are you ready for the first question, Ellen? Ellen Gordon: Thank You Avagene. Thank everyone else for taking the time from your busy schedules to join me. I hope you find it useful. I look forward to the next hour. Avagene Moore: Great! Avagene Moore: Ellen, will you please give a little background on your appointment as the Iowa Homeland Security Advisor? Ellen Gordon: 0n 10/08/01, Governor Vilsack appointed me as the Iowa Homeland Security Advisor; I continue as the State Emergency Management Administrator. Much of the work for Homeland Security is the same as Emergency Management. The new areas for us are: detection and protection; however there are many similarities. ... Ellen Gordon: Public information is one of our challenges. We have a new web site that we hope provides the public with some of the needed information. The site address is http://www.iowahomelandsecurity.org . Avagene Moore: How is this related to your involvement with the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism? Ellen Gordon: My involvement with the Advisory Panel is separate from my job in Iowa. However,the work that the panel has done is very beneficial to developing a program in Iowa, as well as other states and communities. It is all related to terrorism preparedness, etc. Avagene Moore: What are Iowa and the Advisory Panel doing specifically? Ellen Gordon: In Iowa we are developing a long term strategic plan for homeland security, It will fold into our existing Domestic Preparedness Strategic Plan. We are also developing a Critical Target Protection Plan. Our goal is to have it done by mid-January. ... Ellen Gordon: We are also revisiting our training program to ensure that we are in fact training all that need to be trained. The Panel is preparing the 3rd and final report to Congress. It will be released in mid-December. ... Ellen Gordon: I believe that there are some good recommendations. Several of the panel's recommendations from the first two reports have been implemented by the administration. The panel web site is http://www.rand.org/nsrd/terrpanel/ . Avagene Moore: Do all States have a similar structure to address terrorism / counter-terrorism issues? Ellen Gordon: I believe each state is approaching it a little differently. Last week stateline.org did a story on some of the state activities. You might find this interesting. You can find it at http://www.stateline.org. Most if not all states have been involved in terrorism preparedness for 3-5 years. Avagene Moore: How are the States networking on terrorism concerns? Ellen Gordon: I believe each state is approaching it a little differently. Last week stateline.org did a story on some of the state activities. You might find this interesting. You can find it at http://www.stateline.org. Most if not all states have been involved in terrorism preparedness for 3-5 years. Ellen Gordon: The bottom line is until the National Homeland Security Office establishes communication protocols with the states on homeland security issues from the federal government, the states will continue to have to go to each federal agency for information. At least that is the way it is today as we chat. Ellen Gordon: Many of us rely heavily upon the National Emergency Management Association. NEMA gives us the means to share information/ideas; one/one relationships are important to share information. Also, the National Governors Association (NGA) has been working closely with the states to share information from Director Ridge's office. ... Ellen Gordon: that is the end of my answer at this time. Avagene Moore: How do Iowa's effort relate to and interact with the National Homeland Security Office headed up by Tom Ridge? Ellen Gordon: I believe it is important that the states/locals have a key role in the development of the national strategy to provide a true "national" strategy. Hopefully our current efforts will not be counter-productive to his mission/goals. I am anxious to meet Director Ridge and his staff to learn more about what their goals are Avagene Moore: What do you see as the impact of terrorism and related efforts on the emergency management community? Ellen Gordon: Terrorism has put a tremendous burden on our response agencies as well as emergency management agencies. Without the proper support from the federal government we will not be able to succeed as we should. ... Ellen Gordon: Emergency management agencies and response organizations should use this time to communicate what our true needs are rather than our wants. We must be able to produce and demonstrate results with any federal resources that we may receive. Avagene Moore: Do you predict major changes for the emergency management program in the future? Ellen Gordon: I believe that terrorism preparedness has and will continue to change our emergency management programs. However,it is very important that we do not lose sight of the "all-hazards" approach to emergency management. ... Ellen Gordon: There is and will continue to be a greater need than ever before for valid public information. There will be greater demand on first responders AND key decision makers to know how to do the job. ,,, Ellen Gordon: There will be a greater demand on local emergency management agencies to be fully prepared for all contingencies. There needs to be a realization that local emergency management agencies must be funded and staffed accordingly. Avagene Moore: How will this new emphasis be communicated to local communities? Ellen Gordon: I firmly believe that local emergency management agencies should be the catalyst in building stronger capability to respond to and recover from terrorist attacks. But for this to be successful, ... Ellen Gordon: the federal government must provide for a more coordinated effort. The states must have a coordinated effort in providing guidance, etc. to local agencies. Avagene Moore: Will the training program that was used for the original 120 cities around the country be extended to the rest of the country? If not, what direction will training take? Ellen Gordon: I do not know the answer to that question. I have not seen any valid reports on whether or not it was effective in the first place. However, I do believe that it is important that we provide a more coordinated approach to training. ... Ellen Gordon: We should ensure that we are training the same protocol's, philosphy, etc. to all disciplines. Again it is important to train from a multi- hazard approach with the specific terrorism courses added. ... Ellen Gordon: For example, the Incidment Command System (ICS) is ICS no matter the hazard. We also need to be more innovative and willing to invest in a wide variety of training medium, web-based, etc. With all of the potential training funds that MAY be coming our way we need to be prepared to spend the funds wisely. Avagene Moore: Thank you, Ellen -- we greatly appreciate your candor today. We hope these questions and answers triggered other questions in our audience. ... Avagene Moore: As stated earlier, I will now review the protocol for submitting questions ... Avagene Moore: Audience, please enter a question mark to indicate you wish to be recognized. After inputting your ? to the screen, compose your question or comment but hold it until you are recognized before hitting the Enter Key or clicking on Send.... Avagene Moore: You will be called on in the order your ? appears on the screen. We now invite your questions and comments. First question, input a ? Ken Kobell: ? Lori Higginbotham: ? Bernard Dubb: ? COL Larry Porter: ? Judson Freed: ? Avagene Moore: Ken, please compose your question and sent to the screen? Others, please input your question mark ? and start composing your question. Wait to be called upon, please. Ken Kobell: At either the state or federal level, do you foresee a changing role for the military or National Guard? Steve Detwiler: ? Ellen Gordon: Yes, I do. One of the key issues that the Gilmore Commission has been working on... Ellen Gordon: is the role of the military, to include the national guard... Dennis Atwood: ? Ellen Gordon: here in Iowa we have use the NG for security missions since 9/11/01... John Dymond: ? Ellen Gordon: we have had to revisit the authorities, etc. I believe the NG can play a vital role in Homeland Defense and Security. Avagene Moore: Lori Higginbotham, your question please. Lori Higginbotham: Ms. Gordon, earlier you mentioned "success" as it relates to emergency managements approach to terrorism. How would you define success? Christopher Effgen: ? Ellen Gordon: I think that we must have a strategic plan to measure against. Each jurisidiction will be different... Ellen Gordon: we have to define what we believe the "end state" is for us and work toward that. Once achieved we should have success... Ellen Gordon: Also success is measured at time of the response. Avagene Moore: Bernard, your turn, please. Bernard Dubb: How can amateur radio capabilities best serve Homeland Security on the local and state levels? Bob Williams: ? Ellen Gordon: It is imperative that state and local emergency mgt. agencies work with the amateur radio organizations.... Ellen Gordon: to me it is a vital part of the overall emergency communications capability in our states. Avagene Moore: Col. Larry Porter, please input your question. COL Larry Porter: Has the FEMA Region WMD Coordinator been of any assistance? Note also that the 120 City list is up to 153 cities to ensure getting to all states. Ellen Gordon: I don't know that the FEMA Region WMD Coordinator has been of any assitance in recent weeks. To be very frank, FEMA has been somewhat silent on homeland security and domestic preparedness since 9/11/01. Avagene Moore: Judson Freed, your turn, sir. Judson Freed: Are there any special considerations being given to the somewhat unique problems (such as population concentration, foreign nationals, nature of business, etc) to security at large research Universities? I am the EM for one of the largest Universities and we often find ourselves left out of the Statewide discussion despite active participation in the various organizations. ray pena: ? Ellen Gordon: I can only speak for what we are doing here in Iowa. We have involved the universities and colleges in our planning efforts. College and Universities have a wealth of expertise. I would advice any state and or local organization to work closley with them. If you have not been approached you should contact them. Avagene Moore: Steve Detwiler, please input your question for Ellen. Steve Detwiler: What kind of guidance has the Office of Homeland Security been giving you so far and what things are they currently working on (Guides, training, etc) lisa owens: ? Ellen Gordon: We have not received any guidance for the National Homeland Securitiy Office. Avagene Moore: Dennis Atwood, you are up next, please. Ellen Gordon: I meant to say from the office Steve Detwiler: ? Avagene Moore: Dennis, are you still with us? Dennis Atwood: Yes...sorry... Dennis Atwood: I'll have to retype my question...please. Dennis Atwood: Can you come back to me? Avagene Moore: OK. ... Avagene Moore: John Dymond, you are next. John Dymond: What do you feel is the most effective way to communicate with local authorities and communities during a critical event? Steve Detwiler: Ms. Gordon, do you know what the Homeland Security Office is working on presently? Avagene Moore: Ellen, are you still with us? Amy Sebring: We are having some tech difficulty ... Ellen Gordon: No I don't specifically. My best guess at this time is that they are starting the develoopment of the national strategy... Ellen Gordon: I also would guess that they are in the midst of building their organization, which does take time. Cam King: ? Avagene Moore: Ellen, did you see John Dymond's question? ... Ellen Gordon: No I did not. Avagene Moore: He asked what you feel is the most effective way to communicate with local authorities and communities during a critical event? leslielittle HELPU: ? Chris Mullins: ? Ellen Gordon: It is important to establish the relationships prior to the disaster, I believe most would agree. During the critical incident it is impt... Ellen Gordon: to have daily briefings if the need is that great; that can be achieved through chat rooms such as this; through conference calls and/or web page announcements. Avagene Moore: Now we are caught up ... Christopher, your question please. Christopher Effgen: What actions have been undertaken to involve the public in homeland defense? Ellen Gordon: As I mentioned earlier, public information has been a tremedous challenge... Ellen Gordon: we are in the midst of developing community based programs....we hope to have the toolkit ready for distribution prior to the holidays.... Jeff Hunt: ? Ellen Gordon: the number one question we have had is"how can we help", that is very difficult to answer ; thus we have tried to develop a tool kit for the local emergency management directors. Avagene Moore: Bob Williams, please. Bob Williams: Ms Gordon, regarding technology, do you foresee a standardized Incident Management System that local,sate, and federal could easily access depending on the size/scope of the event? It seems to me that having one standardized system in place would facilitate better overall response and management. Is there a system in the works? Avagene Moore: (While Ellen composes her answer, we have 7 questions waiting. Send your ? mark anytime if you wish to speak.) Ellen Gordon: Yes many times over. I think that it is vital that we have a "national" system. I believe that there are ideas and systems being discussed as we chat. Avagene Moore: Ray Pena, your turn. ray pena: Ms. Gordon, thanks for your great work.I've checked out your materials on your website (very nice) and wonder - is it alright to use (steal) them, with attribution, natch? Ellen Gordon: Thank you! You can use whatever you want. Please do. Avagene Moore: Lisa Owens, you are next, please. lisa owens: You stated FEMA has played a minimal role since 9-11, what role do you see them playing. This event the Red Cross was the agency clearly dispursing relief money. I think FEMA was silent because they saw they were not needed. Doesn't FEMA clean up after enough disasters? 9-11 was so big that others wanted to respond, don't you think? John Dymond: ? Tim Campbell: ? Ellen Gordon: I don't think it is a matter of wanting to respond or not. Historically FEMA has had a role in reponse, recovery, preparedness, mitigation.... Ellen Gordon: I don't believe that preparing for terrorist attacks should be any different. FEMA still has the "coordination" responsibility post disaster. I am not saying they did not fill this role, because I believe they did.... Ellen Gordon: What I was referring to is in relationship to the preparedness, detection and protection issues surrounding homeland security. We need for them to be involved and provide tech assistance where needed. Avagene Moore: Dennis Atwood, are you ready with your question now? We are back to you. Dennis Atwood: Ellen - thanks for all the vital work you are doing and for being in this forum. Two points, please (1) with fond memories working togther to successfully meet the Y2K challenge, I hope its applicability to information infrastructure security is fully appreciated in homeland security initiatives (2) I am concerned about the balance among (a) law enforcment (b) firefighters/hazmat/ems (c) public health and medical sector and (d) all hazards emergency management. It seems that law enforcement is Dennis Atwood: dominating now. How can the balance best be maintained? Ellen Gordon: There definitely must be a balance. Each discipline has a key role.... Ellen Gordon: I believe that the feeling of law enforcement dominating probably comes from the fact that they 'have the information" that the rest of us want... Ellen Gordon: or at least we think they do. This balance can be achieved through the planning , training and exercising process.... Ellen Gordon: that is where role identiy and responsibilities will balance. Avagene Moore: Cam King is next, please. Cam King: Ms. Gordon, as one who is observing the fast moving events in the United States, I wonder what steps are being taken to overcome "turf wars" in relation to the current terrorism activities but, in the greater effort, of total emergency management? We, in Canada, hear (as one example only) that the CIA don't talk to the FBI. We have the same kinds of issues here so would appreciate your thoughts on these "sticky" problems. Ellen Gordon: One of the key issues that the Gilmore Commission worked on was sharing of information... Ellen Gordon: more specifically within the federal family. Two years ago when we started our work we immediately recognized that information sharing was not the norm.... Ellen Gordon: there are significant culture issues as well as laws that need to be changed for this to work the way that we would think it should.... Cam King: Gilmore commission? Ellen Gordon: a little closer to home here in the state, we too have struggled with some of the same issues. Culture and laws seem to be the two roadblocks. Avagene Moore: Leslie Little, please. (We have 3 more questions but have time for a few more. Please input your ? if you want to ask Ms. Gordon a question.) Ellen Gordon: Carn.Is your question who is the Gilmore Commission? Roger Fritzel: ? leslielittle HELPU: Ms. Gordon, what training is being proposed for local jurisdictions to use when working with or developing Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams (NETC), especially in non-native american speaking neighborhoods, and other at-risk communities? Tim Campbell: ? Cam King: Yes Avagene Moore: Leslie, let Ellen respond to Gilmore Commission? Ellen Gordon: The Gilmore Commission is a Congressional and Presidential Advisory Commission that was established 3 years ago to provide advice on Terrorism Preparedness, etc. I gave the web site earlier in the questions. Amy Sebring: http://www.rand.org/nsrd/terrpanel/ Cam King: Thanks Avagene Moore: Thanks Ellen and Amy. Now back to Leslie's question. Ellen Gordon: I am not totally familiar with specific training on NETC and non native american speaking....I do know that many of my collegues across the country incorporate the non american speaking information into their documents. Avagene Moore: Chris Mullins, next please. Chris Mullins: Do you believe that there will be a good working relationship between the OHS and other Federal Agencies, such as the FBI, CIA, FEMA, etc...? Ellen Gordon: I think that there HAS to be if there is going to be a successfully implementation of a national homeland security strategy. Again, there are culture issues, but I believe that President Bush has indicated that there will be a team effort. Avagene Moore: Jeff Hunt, your turn, sir. Jeff Hunt: Are you aware of any attempts to work with Internet Service Providers, to try and reduce the increased hacking and effects of Viruses? If this is ever co-ordinated into a focused attack against an infrastructure, I could see us being very unprepared. I must say in comment to Federal Agencies co-operating, the FBI have been as helpful as possible to our small business. Christopher Effgen: ? Ellen Gordon: I am glad to hear that the FBI has been working closely with you, it is very important. There are efforts being taken to address the cyber security issues; many states are addressing it as well as the National Office, I believe Richard Clark is heading up part of that effort. Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: John Dymond, please. John Dymond: I also viewed your web site and it is very informative, Thank You. Earlier you mentioned FEMA's involvement. You are probably already know FEMA uses automated high speed notification technology to get critical information to selected individuals and groups of individuals via telephone, pager, cell, email, fax, etc. which verifies the receipt of that information, do you see the benefits of the state homeland security offices using this same technology (web based) to get critical information to Avagene Moore: John, do you have your question ready? John Dymond: It is posted Avagene Moore: I will try to recap John's question. .... Avagene Moore: Ellen, John wants to know if you see high speed technology ... Avagene Moore: llike FEMA is using particularly in noticication and warning as beneficail to homeland security? Avagene Moore: Notification, sorry. Ellen Gordon: Yes. I believe that we must use the technology that we have plus R&D new to help solve the communication issues. Knowledge management is key to our ability to survive in the future... Ellen Gordon: without excellent technology tools for all forms of communications we could find ourselves far behind. Avagene Moore: Roger Fritzel, your turn, sir. (We have 3 more questions, that will do it for us today after those.) Roger Fritzel: Regarding the issue of valid public information, have any "lessons learned " emerged from the anthrax situation? Ellen Gordon: One that I am familiar with is the difficulty in have the "correct" information the first time around... Ellen Gordon: It is difficutlt to keep going back to the public with "correct" information... Ellen Gordon: crediability becomes a big issue at that point. Avagene Moore: Tim Campbell, you are next, please. Tim Campbell: Ms. Gordon, Are we confusing everyone with the many new acronyms and varying definitions of them by the agencies. It appears to be causing confusion among us let alone the press and public? Crisis Consequences WMD are all names for things that have been around for years, including now Homeland Defense. Ellen Gordon: I agree. I believe that Terrorist Attack is another type of disaster that we must prepare for. The way in which we approach it really does not have any new words attached to it. The Security issue is a little bit new to us in emergency management, that has always been a law enforcement responsibility. Avagene Moore: Christopher, another question from you, sir. Christopher Effgen: I beleive that the EMForum is very important and could have been very helpful had it been operational Sept 11, 2001. Do you agree? Ellen Gordon: Iagree that it could have been used for exchange of information, etc. Avagene Moore: What a nice thing to say, Christopher. We didn't ask him to do that but that is great! ... Avagene Moore: Amy, your question please. Amy Sebring: I understood that a terrorism hazard analysis was being prepared at the states level. If this is correct, where in the process is that, and how will it be used? Ellen Gordon: FEMA asked the states to conduct a terrorism capability assessment. It was not a thorough capability assessment that we typically conduct. I believe that the purpose was to give them an idea of where we need assistance. Those were submitted severeal weeks ago, I do not know what they results are. Avagene Moore: We have run over just a bit today. That is all the time we have for now. .... Avagene Moore: Thank you very much for being such an informative guest today, Ellen. We appreciate your time and effort on behalf of the EIIP Virtual Forum. ... Ellen Gordon: Everyone Thank YOU. Avagene Moore: Audience, we appreciate your presence and participation today. Ellen, thank you for a great job! Keep up the good work and keep us posted on further developments in Iowa. ... Avagene Moore: The transcript of the session will be available by the first of next week. Please take advantage of that - this has been a good session and the transcript will be excellent... Avagene Moore: We will adjourn the EIIP Virtual Forum at this time. Please feel free to express your personal appreciation to Ellen for her presentation. .. Avagene Moore: You are all welcome to hang around for a few minutes to chat and get re-acquainted. We have missed being in the Virtual Forum!