State likely to get $80 million

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is likely to get up to $80 million in federal money to improve its ability to respond to terrorist attacks, the state's top security official said Wednesday.

About $15 million, expected by late summer, will be earmarked for helping the state confront bioterrorism threats, state homeland security adviser Tim Daniel told a House appropriations committee.

The rest -- $60 million to $65 million -- is expected in the following fiscal year and would be used to equip and train local agencies that would be the first to respond after an attack, Daniel said. The money could go to police, health and fire departments.

"We'll have a one-time shot to take this money and achieve the best we can achieve with it," Daniel said.

The money would also finance efforts to coordinate local agencies, particularly in rural communities, he said.

The federal government wants Gov. Bob Holden to submit a plan outlining how Missouri communities will work together to best use resources, Daniel said.

Public health

Daniel singled out the Kansas City area as a national model for its efforts to coordinate its emergency management agencies.

Besides the federal money, Daniel said Missouri needs to spend $8.1 million in state money to increase its security through training for emergency responders.

Public health is at the top of Daniel's list of security concerns. He said the medical community needs to do a better job spotting and communicating problems and handling them if they occur.

The $15 million in federal aid for bioterrorism would help, Daniel said, but the state still is going to have spend its own money to improve the health infrastructure.

"The state's public health infrastructure is insufficient to manage the day-to-day operation, let alone the threat of bioterrorism," Daniel said.

Kansas City officials figure they need an additional 30 employees to handle a chemical or biological attack.

"Right now in St. Louis, for example, most hospitals and critical care units are full because of flu season," Daniel said.

Daniel's comments came on a day when lawmakers honored those who helped in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and hearing proposals to counter future terrorism.