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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2001
01-225

BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL TERRORISM - IS ALASKA PREPARED?

The terrorist attacks of September 11 have heightened public interest and awareness of the potential for terrorist attacks of all types, prompting some to question whether our nation and our state are prepared for attacks involving chemical and biological substances. The answer is that Alaska and other states have taken many steps in past years to prepare for such an attack, but common sense dictates that these be reevaluated in light of the recent attacks.

"Federal, state, and local governments have been preparing for several years to prevent and respond to potential acts of bio-terrorism and chemical terrorism," said Major General Phil Oates, commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Alaska National Guard Adjutant General.

"Several years ago, local, state, and federal agencies realized that the United States was vulnerable to chemical and biological terrorist attacks." Oates said. "Experts recognized that chemical and 'germ' warfare research, developed by the U.S., U.S.S.R. and other countries prior to 1973, had become available to terrorist organizations. This concern was heightened after the fall of the Soviet Union, and there was suddenly a stockpile of all types of weapons there for the taking."

Recognizing the need to be prepared at the state and local level, Congress authorized funding in 1998 to allow states and large cities to develop the ability to detect and respond to bio-terrorism and chemical attacks. The State of Alaska and the Municipality of Anchorage have been recipients of these funds.

The State of Alaska currently has several valuable resources to combat terrorism.

  • The Municipality of Anchorage is one of 120 large cities to receive federal funds to develop a Metropolitan Medical Response System to combat terrorism. In addition, a new state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center has just opened.
  • The Alaska State Public Health Laboratories, a section of the Department of Health and Social Services, is working with the CDC to develop rapid diagnostic tests for bacteria and viruses most likely to be used for bio-terrorism.
  • The Section of Epidemiology, a section of the Department of Health and Social Services, enhanced its statewide surveillance for all infectious diseases of public health concern, including diseases that could be the result of bio-terrorism.
  • The Alaska Division of Public Health has provided conferences and published materials, to inform Alaska health care providers and laboratory workers about bio-terrorism.
  • The 103rd Civil Support Team, an Alaska National Guard unit based in Anchorage, is a highly trained group of professionals that will soon be available to offer consultation and rapid diagnostic technology for detection and response to a chemical, biological, or radiological event anywhere in Alaska. The National Guard has other personnel and resources such as vehicles, water trailers, and tents that could be used in response to a terrorist event.
  • The 44-member Alaska 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is part of a national network of health care professionals trained to supplement state and local resources during disasters. They have been mobilized to support response efforts at the World Trade Center in New York City.
  • The State Emergency Coordination Center (SECC) began 24-hour per day, 7 days a week operations on October 1, 2001. This new asset gives Alaska the ability to coordinate response operations for any disaster much more rapidly than was previously possible.

In addition to state resources, Alaska has federal resources that can quickly be made available to respond to acts of terrorism. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinates the federal response to a terrorist incident. Under the Federal Response Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the lead federal agency for health and medical services, and FEMA work together to provide health and medical support, including DMAT.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (an agency within the DHHS) is responsible for deployment of the Pharmaceutical Stockpile. This stockpile contains critical antibiotics, antidotes and medical supplies for prophylaxis and treatment of biological or chemical agents. The Federal Bureau of Investigations is charged with investigation of terrorist acts, whether suspected or confirmed.

"Communities are becoming more and more prepared every day," Oates said. "Much is being done to protect Alaska and its residents, but we all need to reenergize our efforts, because there is always more that can be done to make us better prepared for an emergency."

Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Karen Perdue says her agency is working with government and private agencies to develop an efficient public health alert system, allowing rapid dissemination and receipt of urgent health information throughout the state.

"It's very important that health care providers, working with the CDC, can identify any trends rapidly," Perdue said. "This communication would then allow them to react with the proper procedures and treatment. In addition, the Center for Disease Control maintains a medical stockpile of vaccines and supplies that can be airlifted to any part of the country in a short time."

"The events of September 11 are forefront in all our minds," says Oates, "and will continue to serve in hastening our efforts to be better prepared."

Further information is available at the following Internet sites:

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