“In conducting this survey, I set out to find exactly what our first responders need,” Ross said.  “In this new era of homeland security, our local firefighters, policeman, emergency preparedness personnel, and others face added challenges in protecting their communities.  During this heightened terror alert, our nation’s eyes are focused on places like New York and Washington, DC, while communities in our own backyards lack the proper resources to respond to a terrorist attack.”

According to the survey results, less than half of the agencies responding said they had a homeland security response plan based on a risk assessment.  Of those with a plan, only 30 percent have ever run simulations to test their response.  Not a single respondent said they have enough equipment to implement their response plan, or even to respond to day-to-day emergencies.

“There are many possible terrorist targets within our district,” Ross said.  “The Pine Bluff Arsenal houses the second largest stockpile of chemical and biological weapons in the nation.  The Highland Industrial Defense Park in East Camden is home to the production of advanced military technology, such as the PAC-3 missile.  Some of our nation’s largest chemical manufacturers are located in El Dorado, and the border town of Texarkana is in close proximity to the Red River Army Depot.

“Our first responders do an excellent job with the resources they have – they protect lives and property every day, and I am grateful for all they do.  But how can we expect them to take on more responsibility with their meager funding for training, equipment, and adequate personnel?  This report demonstrates that we have personnel and volunteers dedicated to their jobs, they just need proper resources in order to be our front line troops for hometown security.”

Ross is having the report hand-delivered to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Friday in the hopes that he will recognize the need of rural areas and will make more grants available to those areas.  

“I believe our district represents a typical slice of rural America, and as the Department of Homeland Security continues to develop, I want the needs of first responders in our rural congressional district to be heard and represented.”

The surveys were completed by 61 first responders who attended a series of homeland security forums Ross hosted throughout the Fourth District in March and April 2003.