SENATE TASK FORCE TO TEST STATEWIDE DISASTER READINESS

Senator Bruno recently met with President Bush at Ground Zero to discuss the terrorist attacks.

Addressing New Threats -- Including Bioterrorism -- to Assure Communities are Prepared

Tuesday, October 16, 2001

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today joined members of the Senate Majority to announce creation of a special task force to determine if communities across the state are prepared to mount effective responses to unexpected disasters, such as the terrorist attack on New York City and the outbreak of bioterrorism involving anthrax.

The Senate Majority Task Force on State and Local Emergency Preparedness -- to be chaired by Senator James L. Seward of Milford, Otsego County -- will attempt to apply lessons learned from the widely acclaimed state and New York City response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack to help communities prevent, prepare and respond to natural and man-made events.

The Senate Majority effort is part of a coordinated state response to the public�s demand for increased preparedness that also includes the creation last week by Governor Pataki of a new Office of Public Security, to be headed by former FBI Assistant Director James K. Kallstrom, and enactment of tough new anti-terrorism laws, including passage of a measure today to deal with the new threat of bioterrorism.

"The terrorist attack on America -- and new threats involving biological weapons -- makes clear the need for a coordinated and comprehensive strategy on every level, and every branch of government to prevent, prepare and respond to any unforeseen disaster so that we can protect the public�s safety and preserve our way of life," said Senator Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "Steps that were taken well in advance of the terrorist attack in New York City have helped speed the recovery and return to normalcy for millions of New Yorkers, and serve as a model for other localities and regions across the state."

Senator Bruno said that the special Task Force, which expects to hold hearings and gather testimony from security, rescue and recovery experts, will work closely with Director Kallstrom and other authorities to coordinate its efforts.

"The rescue and recovery effort at Ground Zero has proven how effective a coordinated and comprehensive plan can be in helping recover from a catastrophe," said Senator Seward, who also heads the Senate Task Force on Emergency Volunteer Services. "These lessons, applied to communities across the state, will prove invaluable in helping to assure the public that their government is well-equipped to adapt meet the challenges of any unexpected event."

Since the Sept. 11 attack, the state Senate has joined with Gov. Pataki in enacting the toughest anti-terrorism laws in the land. And the Senate has long backed efforts to support volunteer and professional emergency service workers, such as those who were at the forefront of rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site.

Specifically, the special Senate Majority Task Force will:

* hold hearings to gather expert and witness testimony concerning state and local government response to the World Trade Center disaster;

* study readiness of local governments across the state to respond to a range of disasters, both man-made and natural;

* gauge the state�s readiness to deal with biological threats, like the use of anthrax;

* evaluate state disaster preparedness protocols and review compliance by local governments.

Because of the statewide significance of the issues to be raised by the special Task Force, every Majority Senator will serve as a member. An Executive Committee including Sens. Seward, Mary Lou Rath (R-C, Williamsville), Guy J. Velella (R-C, The Bronx/Westchester), Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City), Michael A.L. Balboni (R-C, Mineola), Caesar Trunzo (R-C, Brentwood), James W. Wright (R-C-I, Watertown), Vincent Leibell (R-C, Patterson), Nick Spano (R-C, Westchester) and Roy M. Goodman (R-Manhattan) -- who previously conducted hearings on security following the 1993 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center -- will coordinate the Task Force�s efforts.

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