Civil Defense
to conduct terrorism
preparedness drill
State officials say an emergency drill being conducted throughout the islands this week is the most wide-ranging terrorism preparedness exercise in Hawaii's history.
The drill will involve all state departments, the four county governments plus major private institutions and health care facilities.
The five-day operation is being run by the state Civil Defense to test procedures the state would use in the event of a terrorist attack, according to Gov. Linda Lingle.
"This type of exercise is valuable for testing our response procedures and making sure the activities of the various agencies are coordinated," Lingle said yesterday.
Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, state adjutant general and Civil Defense director, noted that because of Hawaii's geographic isolation, the state must be prepared to operate alone in case of an emergency.
"We know we can not get reinforcements from the outside to come to our support in a rapid manner," Lee said.
Cost estimates for the drills were not released, although Lee noted that overtime and other expenses would be covered by federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security.
The state was given about $5.7 million from Homeland Security, 80 percent of which was required to go to the counties, after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in 2001.
The exercise will include simulated threats against Hawaii's infrastructure, a hazardous-materials response drill and a multiagency response to bioterrorism, according to Lingle. At the same time, local hospitals will conduct a certification drill in a simulated bioterrorism attack, she said.
Hawaiian Electric Co., Hawaii Health Systems Corp., Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Matson Navigation Co. and some hospitals are participating in the drill.
