Home News The EM Field State Showcases Vehicles, Equipment that Enhance Emergency Response in Illinois
State Showcases Vehicles, Equipment that Enhance Emergency Response in Illinois
Friday, 29 May 2009 13:54
IEMA LogoA fleet of more than 30 emergency response vehicles and other response equipment staged outside the State Capitol in Springfield on Tuesday didn't signify a major disaster at the heart of Illinois state government.  Rather, the equipment display showcased major equipment purchased by Illinois with a portion of the state's share of federal homeland security dollars received over the past decade.

Command trailers, special teams response trucks, equipment trailers, even two tactical boats lined nearly two blocks of Monroe Street in the display organized by the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to highlight the state's emergency response and preparedness efforts.

"Illinois' homeland security efforts are recognized as among the best in the nation, and this equipment display demonstrates the state's strong commitment to enhancing emergency response capabilities," said IEMA Director Andrew Velasquez III, who also serves as the state's homeland security adviser.  "But it's important to note that while this equipment was purchased with homeland security funds, most of it is used on a regular basis by local responders for response to other emergencies, such as tornadoes, floods and hazardous materials incidents."

The ITTF was created nearly 10 years ago to develop and implement the state's homeland security strategy.  Today, the task force's membership includes more than 60 agencies, organizations and municipalities that represent emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, public health and other response disciplines.  The ITTF's 15 committees focus on various components of the state's homeland security plan, such as crisis response and prevention, technology, training and communications.

The task force is also responsible for determining how the state's share of federal homeland security funds should be used to enhance emergency preparedness and response throughout Illinois.  Since 1999, the state has received more than $374 million in federal homeland security grants.       

"Since the very beginning, Illinois' approach to homeland security was focused on developing a coordinated, cohesive level of preparedness across the state," said Mike Chamness, chairman of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (ITTF).  "The equipment on display today represents nearly 450 similar items that have been staged throughout Illinois.  This equipment can be deployed locally, regionally, literally anywhere in the state in response to any type of disaster."

Chamness said the ITTF has spent $68.8 million acquiring and outfitting the 443 vehicles and pieces of emergency response equipment represented in the display.

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