Cape's Project Impact doesn't deal with terrorism

In 1998, Cape Girardeau was the first city in Missouri to be designated disaster resistant under the Project Impact program. The city became a model for others in the country.

But when Sept. 11 gave new definition to the word disaster, the nation turned fresh eyes to emergency preparedness programs with one question: "Are we ready for terrorism?"

A congressional report released last week said the federal government is unprepared to respond to a bioterrorist attack, and the situation is even worse at the local level.

"Until a few weeks ago terrorism wasn't really on anybody's agenda," said Walter Denton, Cape Girardeau assistant city manager and Project Impact coordinator.

This week city officials held a planning meeting for the Emergency Operations Center at Fire Station No. 1 on Sprigg Street.

Project Impact, a national effort sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, helped cities develop disaster-prevention programs. Much of Cape Girardeau's $500,000 grant was spent on disaster prevention: Flood sensors were installed under bridges to gauge flash flooding; an emergency backup generator was installed this summer at the waste-water treatment plant; an emergency shut-off valve was put on the largest water-storage tank.

In Cape Girardeau, which is situated near the New Madrid Fault, the worst-case scenario for emergency planners usually involves an earthquake with attention also given to tornadoes and floods. Those are still the most likely threats the city faces, said Denton.

"Flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes ... those hazards don't go away. They're just not in the spotlight right now," he said.

To also prepare the city for terrorist attacks, financial resources would have to come from someplace else, Denton said.

Project Impact grants, initiated under President Clinton, expired Sept. 28 when the new administration's budget took effect.

Some funds are available in the city budget, but "demands are always greater than supplies," Denton said.

Still up in the air is whether more money will be available from Washington for disaster mitigation or whether Cape Girardeau will be eligible, since the city already received the $500,000 under Project Impact.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Missouri Department of Health has accelerated its schedule for completing a statewide bioterrorism plan and implementing a new system for reporting suspicious illnesses.

New task force

EPA chief Christie Todd Whitman said Friday the agency will form a task force to help expand federal, state and local tools to safeguard the nation's drinking water.

The emergency shut-off valve on the largest water storage tank in Cape Girardeau was purchased with the threat of earthquakes in mind. A sensor tuned to seismic activity will activate the valve so the city doesn't lose its water supply as a result of damaged pipes.

Recently however, some worries have been expressed about the plant's other vulnerabilities. Security has been beefed up around the water treatment plant and its large storage of potentially hazardous chlorine gas, said Denton. And this summer, Cape Girardeau County Emergency Management sponsored training in weapons of mass destruction and terrorism.

This summer experts conducted site visits of essential facilities in the city like the water treatment plant and police station. They pointed out weak points and explained where the buildings and grounds may be vulnerable to militia or terrorist attacks.

"A lot of eyes were opened," Denton said.

Since the money from Project Impact dried up, city officials are having to look elsewhere for emergency management materials.

Drill set for Oct. 11

A community-wide emergency drill, planned for Oct. 11, was scheduled before the terrorist attacks on the East Coast. Both area hospitals, several organizations, businesses and schools will be participating, and some groups actually will send people to the hospitals to test their response.

Public information officer Tracey Glenn said the efforts of the Project Impact program continue. Although the emergency operations plans don't specifically address terrorism, some programs will be useful in any disaster, she said.

One example is the city's community emergency response training, in which members of the community are trained in emergency safety drills, first aid, disaster psychology and light search and rescue. Cape Girardeau firefighter Paul Breitenstein is one of the city's volunteer CERT instructors.

"The way the program is set up, the training will be just as applicable whether the disaster is natural or manmade," Breitenstein said.

Since it could take as long as three days for outside help or supplies to reach the city in the event of a disaster, CERT's goal is to get as many residents trained and planning ahead as possible. The theory is if non-injured community members can take care of themselves for 72 hours, then that frees up emergency workers to tackle the more immediate dangers like fighting fires or rescuing the injured.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

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