Emerson to hold homeland security meeting in Cape

Officials from local governments and emergency services in Southeast Missouri will meet with U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson today to discuss how best to combat any future terrorism in the region.

Emerson has invited about 100 fire, police, public health, emergency management, city and county officials throughout the area to the 9 a.m. meeting at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau. The meeting is by invitation only.

At the roundtable discussion, first responders will have the opportunity to address public health concerns, emergency response plans and law enforcement communications needs.

Emerson said many rural counties and communities aren't prepared to address terrorism emergencies.

"In rural America where our communities have a proven track record of handling natural disasters like floods and tornadoes, the attacks of Sept. 11 have brought new threats to the Heartland," she said.

New challenges

"Once effective emergency response plans now require us to address a number of unique challenges for responding to terrorism, bioterrorism and public health emergencies," Emerson said.

The Cape Girardeau Republican said a lack of funding and coordination with state and federal agencies has made it hard for communities to implement emergency response plans.

The National Association of Counties said that only 22 percent of counties with less than 10,000 people have plans to deal with terrorism emergencies.

Today's meeting is the first of several that Emerson plans to hold in the 8th Congressional District.

Emerson wants the federal government's new Office of Homeland Security to assist local communities to train personnel, ensure the availability and distribution of adequate supplies of vaccines and antibiotics, and improve emergency notification systems to prevent or respond to future attacks.