Issue Position: Strengthening Homeland Security

Issue Position

Issue Position: Strengthening Homeland Security

Governor Warner was sworn in just four months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including the devastating assault on the Pentagon in Arlington. With the establishment of the first-ever Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness as a Cabinet-level position, Governor Warner ensured from day one that homeland security would be a top priority of his Administration.

During his first month as Governor, Governor Warner also created the Secure Virginia Panel to "improve the Commonwealth's preparedness and response and recovery capability for natural disasters and emergencies of all kinds, including terrorist attacks."

Throughout his term, the Governor pushed for greater coordination among state and local entities as well as more resources to protect the people of Virginia. His leadership during natural disasters, ranging from Hurricane Isabel in 2003 to severe flooding in various parts of the Commonwealth, helped speed emergency assistance to Virginians.

Supporting the National Guard and Active Duty Military

Throughout Governor Warner's term in office, members of the Virginia National Guard were heavily deployed overseas as part of the nation's military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Supporting the troops - whether active duty, Guard or Reserve - was a high priority for the Warner administration.

Governor Warner worked with the legislature to approve in-state tuition rates for military members stationed in the Commonwealth, and free in-state tuition and reimbursement of fees for dependents of Virginia National Guard personnel killed in armed conflict. He also issued an executive order shortly after the invasion of Iraq which required the Commonwealth to pay any state employee called for service in the National Guard the difference between their state pay and their compensation as members of the Guard. He also urged private businesses to follow the Commonwealth's lead in providing this vital financial support to men and women in uniform.

Improving Service to Military Veterans

The Governor recognized that Virginia's 780,000 veterans are entitled to state services worthy of their sacrifice to the country. He assembled a blue-ribbon panel of veterans to recommend ways to improve state services to the men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. The panel recommended consolidating veterans' services under a single agency and board. In 2003, the Governor presented the panel's proposals to the General Assembly, and they were adopted into law.

Enhancing Disaster Coordination

Governor Warner quickly determined one of the major problems with ensuring homeland security was a lack of coordination and communication among key agencies and gaps in communication with the public in the event of a terrorist attack or significant natural disaster. Governor Warner created the Virginia Homeland Security Threat Warning System and established the Virginia Fusion Center as a centralized intelligence gathering mechanism between law enforcement and emergency management.

The creation of a Cabinet-level position dedicated as a single point of contact for security and preparedness was a first in the nation. Centralized control helped prevent duplication and improved accountability for the more than $425 million of federal and state funding committed to preparedness in Virginia after September 11th. The new Special Assistant also oversees implementing the state government-wide Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) process. During Governor Warner's term, more than 85% of all Executive Branch agencies developed and tested their plans.

On the first anniversary of 9/11, the Governor launched Virginia Corps to capture the renewed spirit of volunteer service and community preparedness that emerged in the wake of the attacks. Through a searchable website, Virginia Corps helped 5,000 volunteers find opportunities to serve in their communities.

In October 2005, Governor Warner opened the new state-of-the-art Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) which he had funded to replace the outdated and inadequate existing bunker - an underground facility that, among other drawbacks, totally blocked wireless communications.

The need was never more pressing than during Hurricane Isabel in 2003, when the EOC had no choice but to temporarily expand its operation to a nearby aboveground State Police training academy gymnasium to respond to Virginia's longest power outage and most widespread disaster. The new EOC provides the statewide command and control center that supports emergency management, situational awareness, and planning and response activities

A communications subcommittee of the Secure Virginia Panel made strides toward renegotiated emergency warning protocols with Virginia's broadcasters, and made progress in efforts to provide text warnings through wireless devices.

Governor Warner also reinstated the dormant Virginia Military Advisory Council, which provides regular contact and discussions between Virginia officials and commanders of military facilities located across the Commonwealth.

Ensuring Infrastructure Security

Virginia is home to the Pentagon, the largest naval station in the country, the second largest commercial port on the Eastern seaboard, Internet hubs through which a significant percentage of e-mail correspondence travels, and significant private sector critical infrastructure, including two nuclear power plants.

Governor Warner made one of his top priorities the security of the Port of Virginia and the millions of cargo containers that arrive at the Port from all over the world. The Virginia Port Authority now inspects 100% of in-bound containers that carry certain contents identified as high risk by federal security experts. In addition, Governor Warner supported additional funding to purchase new technology and equipment to enhance port security in Virginia.

Governor Warner's Secure Virginia Panel brought together experts in a variety of fields to make recommendations on policy, statutory, and other changes that would enhance security on the front-end and ensure order in the event of a terrorist act or natural disaster. The Governor oversaw implementation of more than 75 major recommendations of the Secure Virginia Panel and more than 150 associated tasks - ranging from developing compatible local and state incident management guidelines to improving cyber-security to ensuring continuity of government.

Virginia is home to significant critical infrastructure owned by the private sector that could be the target of terrorists. Governor Warner initiated the Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection Working Group (CIPWG) to engage the private sector in prevention and preparedness initiatives to protect Virginia's critical infrastructure.
Preparing for the Future

Governor Warner directed the development of a five-year, enterprise-wide, all-hazards strategy that promotes deterrence, prevention, response, and recovery as a shared responsibility of all agencies and levels of government, the private sector, and citizens. As a result, Virginia has been recognized as a national leader in preparedness.

Virginia and two other states were recognized in 2005 by the Trust for America's Health as the most prepared in the nation for their ability to respond to a mass outbreak of disease, or bio-terror incident. Governor Warner helped initiate a voluntary immunization program for first responders who may be exposed to infectious diseases, and pushed legislation to facilitate the provision of necessary medications by unlicensed personnel in the event of an emergency or disaster caused by terrorist acts.

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