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Chemical, Biological Threats Top Mayors' Homeland Security Worries

Cities need more resources to devote to threat detection, emergency response equipment, according to a new survey.

MADISON, Wis. -- The nation's mayors, including those governing some of the nation's largest cities, are most concerned about the threat of chemical and biological terrorism, according to a new homeland-security survey released during the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 70th annual meeting in Madison, Wis.

Mayors also report funding shortfalls for threat-detection and emergency-response-equipment purchases, the survey said.

The survey, conducted by the USCM and DuPont through their Cities United for Science Progress partnership, found:

- Concerns about terrorist attacks have not abated among mayors: More than seven out of ten mayors express "very high concern" or "high concern" about chemical (73 percent) and biological (71 percent) threats. Two-thirds reported similar concern about bomb threats. Less than half reported the same level of concern about traditional crime (48 percent), electronic threats (46 percent) and nuclear threats (30 percent).

- Mayors are extremely dissatisfied with the level of funding their city is receiving from state and federal governments.

- Mayors feel strongly that additional funding and resources should be directed to nearly every aspect of local homeland preparedness, especially threat detection (79 percent), emergency-response equipment (77 percent), protecting infrastructure (75 percent) and purchasing protecting apparel (69 percent).

- Only 26 percent of mayors are satisfied with the availability of overtime for emergency personnel, a major factor in ensuring preparedness and response capability.

- Mayors want additional funding channeled directly to cities and their first responders. Eighty-seven percent say their city's emergency preparedness funding would be "hampered if the federal government were to provide funding directly to the state as opposed to directly to the city."

- Most mayors are satisfied with their preparedness plan (72 percent rate as "very satisfied" or "satisfied"), communications plan (55 percent) and communication within a core of first responding agencies. However, most mayors see a need to improve communications beyond this core -- to neighboring jurisdictions, hospitals and the medical community, businesses and the general public.

- Some cities identify a "best practice," even in areas generally identified as unsatisfactory, such as threat detection, regional emergency response planning and plans involving the medical community. These best practices could provide a basis for learning and action on the part of other communities. The USCM also released a new publication that highlights best practices for combating terrorism in cities across the country.

"This survey underscores the work cities have done to prepare for emergencies," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, president of the USCM. "But it also demonstrates that, when it comes to preparedness, it is a new day with new needs for our cities. Cities urgently need direct federal assistance to ensure they can respond effectively to any emergency."

The survey's executive summary is available online. The full survey will be released Friday, following remarks by Transportation Security Chief John Magaw.

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge is slated to speak on Monday.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors