Security funds reach small towns, but at a trickle

Last year, East Lyme received $95,000, money that went to buy things like hazardous material suits and an all-terrain vehicle "gator" to help first responders navigate through big summer crowds on the beach. But what the town really needs is a new communications center that will help police, fire, EMS, and public works officials communicate with one another as well as with other towns surrounding the nuclear power plant. That could cost as much as $4 million dollars.

East Lyme officials are talking with nearby towns about the possibility of proposing a regional communications system. "It's on the drawing board, but will it ever take place, will it ever happen?" says Morris. "I don't know."

Another frustration has to do with what's called "boots on the ground," personnel. Many towns have found that while DHS offers the opportunity to buy plenty of equipment and training, they don't always have enough people to take advantage of it.

"We're finding lots of places where there's plenty of training available and plenty of equipment, but not enough people to use either of them," says Barry Kasinitz, director of governmental affairs for the International Association of Fire Fighters.

In East Lyme's case, they have enough people to cover when officers go for training, but not enough money to pay for it. DHS provides $200 a day for what's called "backfill." But because the officers who are covering are usually working overtime, that only pays part of their wage. For large cities, DHS now pays the entire cost. Morris hopes that will be expanded to all areas as well.

But Mr. Kasnitz of the International Fire Fighters wants DHS to go further. He supports a bill that will provide grants to hire more fireman, a move that DHS opposes. "We do get complaints that we don't allow homeland-security dollars to be used for boots on the street," says Marc Short, a DHS spokesman. "But our philosophy is that homeland security is shared responsibility with local and state governments. We provide equipment and training. If we're also providing the personnel, what's left in the shared responsibility?"

On the state level, Connecticut's security officials are confident that shared responsibility will go more smoothly in the future, in part because a new Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security recently came into existence.

"I can understand the frustration on the local level, it's taken a long time to do this," says Wayne Sandford, deputy commissioner of the new department. "But in a lot of ways we are also fortunate. While we were on hold waiting for the new agency, the Feds were doing a lot of work. So now the Feds are rolling out their programs, saying, 'This is the direction we want you to go in.' And we'll be able to follow their lead."

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