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Friday, November 9, 2001
Task force suggests expanding guardsmen's role at airports
Governor's group also backs initiative for $6 million office of epidemiology c
By Mark Babineck
Associated Press
   HOUSTON - The Governor's Task Force on Homeland Security recommended that Texas Gov. Rick Perry consider expanding the role of the National Guard at airports and improving communication, law enforcement, and emergency capabilities.
   The committee, meeting in Houston on Thursday, also rubber-stamped an effort Perry already has endorsed to dedicate $6 million annually to create a State Office of Epidemiology and other Texas Department of Health initiatives to fight terrorism that uses biological or chemical weapons.
   "We're taking the breathing period and trying to be prepared, so that some day - God forbid - if there is an attack, we've got the ability to detect and deter it," said Texas Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, chairman of the task force, created in October to advise Perry on terrorism issues.
   Officials said communication among health professionals and agencies can be a key to stemming a bioterrorism attack before an infection gets out of control.
   The task force asked Perry to consider, with the help of the Texas Medical Association and other groups, promoting better reporting of infectious diseases.
   Sealing the cracks
   "That's really what it's all about, sealing up all those seams and making this (communication) a seamless process," said state Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, who is on the task force's bioterrorism working group.
   The task force also recommended that Perry consider:

Allowing the National Guard to perform more security duties at airports besides just being stationed at checkpoints and to provide security at sensitive private infrastructural units, such as power plants, in times of alert.

Supporting more money for Department of Public Safety efforts to detect, deter and respond to terrorism.

Requesting federal funding from the Department of Defense for a second Civil Support Team for the National Guard. Texas has one of 10 such units, based in Austin.

Seeking expanded training for firefighters, paramedics, police officers, medical professionals and others likely to be first to respond to an attack.

Requesting that mid-sized and large cities request state help in developing plans for hazardous materials routes.
   The 21-person task force, which lacked one member, was unanimous on all seven points, which underwent minor revisions from their original wording.
   More ideas to come
   Shapiro said her working group, chaired by Dallas oncologist Amanullah Khan, should have some more bioterrorism-related recommendations for Perry ready for consideration by the next task force meeting later this month.
   The working group intends to recommend establishing eight epidemiology response teams across the state, upgrading state labs around Texas to identify possibly infectious agents and adding knowledge about chemical weapons to their repertoire.
   It is important that labs across Texas have the capability to quickly process samples with the same efficiency as the Department of Health's main lab in Austin, Khan said.
   A recent Department of Health report concluded that Texas was ill-prepared for bioterrorism, spurring support for spending $12 million during the next two years on improved epidemiology efforts.
   Hospitals, which would become the flashpoints of any bioterror attack, need improved security and safety measures, Dr. S. Ward Casscells, vice president of biotechnology at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, testified Thursday.
   Earlier in the day, discussion focused on the unique security concerns of the Texas coast, home to two of the nation's top five ports and the hemisphere's largest petrochemical complex.
   Officials from the Valley to the upper coast repeatedly told the task force they need more money, manpower and better coordination to defend plants, channels, bridges and other potential targets.
   Some task force members seemed impressed by systems already in place, such as the Channel Industries Mutual Aid organization by which Houston Ship Channel area plants and emergency agencies pledge to help one another in crisis.

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