Untitled Document

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

October 29, 2003

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Presents N.C. Results As Part of National Survey on Hometown Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), the only North Carolina Member serving on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, today presented the results of his District-wide survey on homeland security as part of a national effort to track the needs of first responders and rate the work of the Department of Homeland Security. The extensive responses from the hundreds of respondents in communities across the country will be used as Congress reviews, plans and proposes homeland security policy.

"Homeland security means hometown security," Etheridge said. "Our first responders must have a voice, and their words must be heeded - in Congress, in the Department of Homeland Security, in the White House."

Several weeks ago, Etheridge distributed surveys to police officers, sheriffs, firefighters and EMS workers to evaluate their security needs and the preparedness of the Triangle area for a potential terrorist attack. Etheridge discussed the results and their implications with local first responders and updated them on efforts in Washington to boost local security.

The national results match Etheridge's, showing that local first responders do not have adequate resources or information from the Department of Homeland Security. Only 16 percent of respondents said the federal government is doing enough on homeland security, and 87 percent of survey respondents said they do not have adequate funding for homeland security. Personnel and communications equipment were reported as the top funding needs. More than half of the first responders surveyed said communication and coordination with the federal government is not adequate.

A copy of the full national report is available here.