MIAMI, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ Â- What began as a roundtable discussion Wednesday on how to address homeland security issues on the local front, evolved into a war-room like resolve to collectively combat pending acts of terrorism in the Florida region, particularly with regard to chemical, agro and bio-terrorism threats.
On the eve of the first presidential debates, which were to be held Thursday night on the campus of the University of Miami, national political pundit Morris L. Reid moderated a discussion on anti-terrorism and domestic security Wednesday afternoon at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Miami. The event was hosted by Robert Kramer, president of BioPort Corporation, the Lansing, Michigan-based makers of the FDA-licensed anthrax vaccine, who stress the importance of utilizing vaccines to prevent the effects of anthrax rather than relying on antibiotics to treat symptoms after the fact.
But as state Rep. Julio Robania said, Florida is widely known for offering several public service announcements and educational survival tips on how to deal with hurricanes and tropical storms, but those types of preemptive measures are lacking with regard to protecting the Sunshine State’s borders from 911-type aerial attacks or the spread of germ-war epidemics.
“It’s not a matter of if it will happen again, but when and where,” Robania said. “The realization is that this (threat) is not going to go away. ... In fact, I’m shocked that this room isn’t filled to capacity because this is an important issue.”
This was the third in a series of similar-type roundtable discussions that have already taken place during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, respectively, in Boston and New York. Future talks will coincide with the two remaining presidential debate sites slated for Cleveland, Ohio and Phoenix, Arizona. A general complacency seems to have engulfed the country and thus has made it more vulnerable, panelists said Wednesday.
“We had a serious awakening with 9-11,” said Ruben Almaguer, chief of operations for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue South Division. “But we’re starting to fall back asleep.”
Several key Florida local elected and civic leaders were in attendance, along with terrorism experts, police, firefighters and first-responder officials. The prevailing theme throughout the two-hour discussion centered on the need to foster better communication within the respective groups represented as well as the general public.
“Rather than just telling people that we’re on Orange alert, Red, Green or whatever, we need to let them know what that means and what they’re supposed to do (to protect themselves),” said Arthur Holmes, assistant chief of operations for Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue.
Obtaining adequate insurance is another key concern for several states, said Dania F. Carillo, manager of the City of Miami’s Department of Risk Management; particularly in Florida, which is reeling from recent hurricane activity. Tourism insurance assists in some instances, but may not be applicable for other destructive acts, she said.
Furthermore, as Ron Sperry of Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue points out, there has yet to be any determination as to whether or not federal or local
officials are held responsible for insurance claims based on illness or sick days attributed to small pox or anthrax vaccinations.
The gathering, which drew a sparse gathering of local media, ended on a high note when Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman offered to propose legislation that could serve as a model for other states in trying to address the financial obligations in dealing with the spread of anthrax.
Her proposal calls for a special open hearing to be held which will allow the state to set aside $5 million in funding to create a reserve account to be applied on an as-needed basis to any vaccinations supplied by BioPort. This measure will help eliminate the burden of states having to continually purchase and stockpile vaccines, which normally carry a shelf-life of three years.
Under this proposal, BioPort would hold and earn interest on the money given by the state with the condition that the fresh medicine is delivered immediately upon request in the case of an outbreak or threat of anthrax scare.
Any talk of homeland security will invariably turn to finances, which states have a difficult time funding themselves, and similarly, have not received adequate fiscal relief from the federal government.
Beyond funding problems, panelists discussed widespread problems regarding the sharing of information and ideas deemed necessary to educate the public, the media, state legislatures and state and local officials who govern emergency service first responders on how to handle future threats.
“We’re better than we were before 9-11,” said City of Miami Fire Chief William “Shorty” Bryson. “But we would still be overwhelmed in the event of another (major) incident.” BioPort Corporation
CONTACT: Alonza Robertson, +1-202-390-8521, for BioPort Corporation