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August 12, 2008

More security funding expected

By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Local officials say they’ve been blessed with the influx of Homeland Security funds, but even more may be coming to the area.

The state will be receiving $13.1 million from the federal government to spend on local Homeland Security funds. Money for Oklahoma projects has been cut since the program’s inception, because domestic terrorism and agriculture resources aren’t considered when figuring the risk formula.

Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Gary Dotson said he won’t be seeking any additional funding this go-round.

“I think we’ve been blessed with the funding we’ve received,” he said. “Between us, Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band, we’ve got more than a lot of areas.”

Homeland Security funding has paved the way for Dotson and the local EM office to purchase equipment ranging from security cameras for all three floors of the city-county complex, to vehicles and trailers. “I can’t think of a situation that might happen here that we wouldn’t have the equipment for,” he said.

Security cameras have also been installed at the water plant and Tahlequah Public Works Authority. Dotson said they’ve been purchased for the Tahlequah Fire Department.

“We can monitor the cameras from the EOC [Emergency Operations Center] or some of us can monitor them from our laptop computers,” he said.

The funding also paid for a system the local EM crew uses to make photo IDs for all personnel.

Kerry Pettingill, the state Homeland Security director, said Oklahoma is grateful to receive additional monies to continue preparedness and prevention practices.

Dotson said local EM personnel will be training again soon on more Homeland Security equipment.

“That should be the last of the equipment we haven’t been trained on,” he said.

Funding is awarded to states based on a formula that includes risk and threat in addition to effectiveness.

Police Chief Steve Farmer said the Tahlequah Police Department learned of the new funding and is seeking funding for some equipment for the officers through the process.

“I think we’ve been able to better prepare ourselves in the event of some type of terrorist event,” said Sheriff Norman Fisher. “We [Cherokee County] have a lot of equipment, and we’ve always been good at pooling our resources in an emergency situation.”

Pettingill said federal grant funding levels have dropped off significantly since 2006, but the threat of terrorism remains the same.

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