John G. Rowland Governor
Statement of Governor John G. Rowland on Homeland Security
March 18, 2003
I want to brief you today on actions the State of Connecticut is taking in response to the President's speech last night.
As many of you know, the state has been on heightened alert for some time - however, today we have elevated our alert status from yellow to orange.
What that means is that we are taking even more precautionary measures to keep this state safe.
We have activated limited staff at the Emergency Operations Center here in the Armory.
The EOC has been activated for monitoring purposes, and other EOC staff are on standby.
Other actions we are taking today:
We have initiated Level One truck inspections - this is the highest level and most detailed inspection of both cargo and contents of trucks traveling our roads and highways.
We have activated the Hazardous Materials Team and the Marine Patrol within the Department of Environmental Protection.
We have activated our State Police Emergency Services Unit - including Bomb Squads and Canine Units.
We have increased our monitoring of all bridges in the state - with particular focus on the Gold Star bridge in New London and the Quinnipiac Bridge near New Haven.
We have increased the protection at our key assets and facilities.
As of today, 36 members of the National Guard have been assigned to southeast Connecticut, covering Millstone facility and providing additional patrols at Connecticut Yankee in East Haddam.
Also starting today, you can expect to see additional National Guard helicopters overhead - they will be overflying key assets throughout our state as part of their regular training mission going forward.
The State Police have the ability to downlink video from Trooper One taken from any facility or asset in the state.So if something happens in any town in Connecticut, Trooper One can take video and monitor it at State Police Headquarters using a downlink
Finally, I have requested that a No Fly Zone be declared by the FAA in the southeast region of our state. We have not received an answer to this request as yet.
We are taking all of these measures - obviously - as precautions. The best preparedness we can possibly have is to be vigilant, prepared, and aware.
I believe Connecticut is as prepared as it can possibly be. We have done the planning, we have the resources - and each and every one of our state agencies is ready.
I want to assure Connecticut residents that regardless of what happens oversees, everybody will be able to live their lives as freely as they do right now.
That is why we have a comprehensive strategy in place to protect Connecticut residents.
That is why we have put these extraordinary resources and dedicated individuals at the ready.
We will remain focused on our airports, power plants, schools, and bigger cities.
If war breaks out, Connecticut is going to step up its level of readiness once again.
The state's antiterrorism efforts have been well planned, well-coordinated, well staffed, and our men and women are well-prepared.
Our state and local law enforcement officials are the finest in America. We can have 700 state troopers to a scene within a very short time. 200 troopers can be given undercover assignments at various key locations throughout the state.
While residents may at times see a stepped up presence as they go about their daily routines, our plan is that this type of visible presence will be the exception not the rule.
I also want to take a minute to talk to both our children and their parents across Connecticut.
There is a lot of anxiety - a lot of fear out there right now.
I want to urge children to ask questions, to talk about their feelings.
And I want to urge the parents: talk to your children. Explain what is going on. Talking to your children is the very best way to reassure them.
And what you can tell them - is to let the Governor and the Generals and the police be in charge of protecting the state.
We have done everything humanly possible to make sure this state is safe. So I would ask - to the extent possible - that you be aware and monitor the media, but also live your lives.
In terms of our young students: preparations are in place at every school in the State of Connecticut.
Schools have been told to be prepared to develop crisis plans. They have been told to train, practice, and drill in order to be ready for anything.
We've also asked mental health workers to assist schools to help answer questions and listen to concerns that arise.
Of course, we recommend that teachers and students dial 911 in any emergency situation.
That simple 9-1-1 phone call triggers up all the way to the state police and the governor to give every resident of this state all the resources they need.
We're dealing with a totally different type of war right now.
We're talking about an unknown enemy that may strike at an unknown time and at an unknown location.
It may be difficult to guarantee that we are totally secure.
But I think we are in pretty darn good shape.
In the days ahead, I urge everyone to not be afraid to ask questions.
Call my office if you have any concerns about the security of the State of Connecticut. I assure you we will get you answers.
Finally, I want to assure everyone that even though there is currently a great deal of uncertainty in the world, there is hope. And as we approach what will certainly be even more trying times, I ask you all to please keep our men and women in uniform in your thoughts and prayers.
I think President Bush laid things out clearly when he said, "We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other presidents, and other generations. We will confront them with focus and clarity and courage. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity."
The things that this country is doing today will help make things a lot better for us tomorrow.