Governor Doyle Accepts Homeland Security Preparedness Report

Governor Jim Doyle today accepted a report from Brigadier General Don Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin and Wisconsin's Homeland Security Advisor, on Wisconsin's overall homeland security readiness. The report outlines the efforts Wisconsin is taking to prevent and respond to potential emergencies including preparations to the H1N1 virus and threat of cyber terrorism. "Wisconsin's emergency response community has been working hard again this year to not only be prepared and respond to our normal emergencies such as flooding and tornadoes but also planning and responding to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus", Governor Doyle said. "H1N1 is proving that it doesn't matter what the threat is, we must work together at all levels to protect Wisconsin." Some of the highlights of this year's annual report include: Planning and response to H1N1 virus. In response to the H1N1 outbreak, this spring the Division of Public Health (DPH) activated its Emergency Operations Center and began using Incident Command System by collaborating and communicating with local, regional, and federal partners. This fall, DPH has updated response plans and is already working closely with these various groups as H1N1 continues to spread again. Enhanced regional collaboration in both emergency planning and response. Communities continue to plan, work and respond together to keep our citizens safe. Success of the regional collaboration was evident at the Cudahy Meat Packing plant fire with 64 fire departments/agencies responding under the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Strong information sharing and collaboration. The state continues to work with our first responders to make sure systems are in place to ensure they have access to critical information when needed. Homeland Security funding. As anticipated, federal homeland security funding for Wisconsin decreased - from $16 million in FY 2008 to $15.3 million in FY 2009. The decline in funding is due to a change in how DHS calculates baseline amounts for each state. Training. In 2008, nearly 6,000 first responders and local officials participated in emergency management training courses and more than 4,000 people participated in emergency management exercises across the state. National Guard Assistance. In 2009, more than 3,700 Guard members deployed to Southwest Asia, including 3,200 members of 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Despite the huge deployment, more than 60 percent of the Wisconsin National Guard remains at home, always ready to respond to a state or federal mission.

Click To View High-Resolution Photo Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle discusses highlights from the 2009 Homeland Security Preparedness Report as Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin and Wisconsin's homeland security advisor, looks on during a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Joint Force Headquarters' Witmer Hall. Also pictured is Edward Wall, Wisconsin Emergency Management administrator. Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson Click To View High-Resolution Photo Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, surrounded by members of the Wisconsin Homeland Security Council, discusses highlights from the 2009 Homeland Security Preparedness Report as Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin and Wisconsin's homeland security advisor, looks on during a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Joint Force Headquarters' Witmer Hall. Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson

To view the 2009 Report on Wisconsin Homeland Security visit: http://homelandsecurity.wi.gov.