The county received some disappointing, but not surprising, news last week about emergency preparedness. We learned that only four more schools would be overpressurized, a procedure that would enhance the safety of the schools in the event of an accident involving the stockpile at the Anniston Army Depot. Then the local emergency management agency along with others in the area refused to participate in an exercise designed to prepare emergency workers and medical staff for a possible accident.
News also came from Washington that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was still refusing to pay for protective suits that would be used by first responders and hoods that would be made available to some of the public.
All in all it was not a very good week.
We have known for a very long time now that the stockpile has presented a danger. Yet we are still groping for a way to deal with that problem. Federal officials have been slow to react and have gone back on their word, especially as it relates to the issue of protective hoods and suits. And the local EMA has never done anyone any favors by refusing to participate in exercises and public information campaigns. How can we, the question must be asked, ever be ready if we do not practice? Exercises such as this allow officials who are in charge of emergency preparedness to discover problems and weaknesses.
Not participating because the funds have not yet arrived is a poor excuse and a flawed negotiating tactic.
About the only thing on track is the incinerator. And that is good news indeed because it would be a mistake to link the above disappointments to the start of this facility. The start-up, as we have mentioned before, does not represent an increase in the danger level. The maximum danger level is now. And the sooner we start burning the weapons, the better off we will be.
That is why it is important that the decision-makers in Washington, especially those in the Alabama delegation, do everything they can to make sure that the facility is fully funded this year and, if possible, add more to the budget for it.
Yes these are difficult times for the Pentagon. We are, after all, involved in a serious conflict that has seen the recent deaths of American soldiers. Our energy and resources need to be aimed at ridding ourselves of those who wish to hand us another Sept. 11.
But surely even those in Washington, who do not know our problem, will recognize it as a security issue. Before Sept. 11 it was serious. Now it is even more so. Therefore it should be given a priority.
The height of foolishness would be to see the incinerator as something that can be moved to the back of the pile to await another budget cycle. That would mean extending the danger level to our community for another year and spending about $300,000 a day to keep the facility open but not functioning.
So let’s continue to work out the very real problems that exist with emergency preparedness. Let’s see a little more understanding of the issue from the federal agencies and cooperation on the part of the local EMA. But let’s also see full commitment from the Washington crowd to move forward with incineration.
