Hawai'i launches home security effort

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

While some states are struggling to pay for and field homeland defense plans, Hawai'i is ahead of the game, in part because of the military forces here and close working relationships among federal and state responders, the state's top two homeland defense officials said.

Lt. Gen. Ed Smith of U.S. Army Pacific, left, and Maj. Gen. Edward Correa of the Hawai'i Army National Guard spoke with The Advertiser's editorial board. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Right now, the (terrorist) threat here in Hawai'i is minimal," Correa said.

Still, there have been cases that have caught the eye of a newly mobilized intelligence network zeroed-in on possible threats.

"There have been a couple that I think have been interdicted by the police, INS and Customs that looked suspicious — but not anything that anyone has overly alerted on," said Lt. Gen. Ed Smith, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, without details.

Another area of concern is the widespread practice of low-level spying.

"There are always people collecting (information) on us," Smith said.

Since Sept. 11, officials have discovered some suspect photography.

"Some of that was just they were interested in why these crazy military people were closing their gates," Smith said. "But every once in a while you would run into someone that we thought was collecting, because different intelligence services around the world move around to different countries and collect on other militaries."

Correa said the FBI has had some "financial concerns about people raising money" here.

Smith oversees the military side of homeland defense as the joint rear area coordinator. Correa, a member of Gov. Ben Cayetano's cabinet, is the overall state coordinator.

Both talked about homeland defense in a meeting with members of The Advertiser's editorial board last week as plans get under way for a new tool against terrorism — a Citizen Corps of anti-terrorism watchdogs.

The new Federal Emergency Management Agency program, still being developed, will see volunteers provide terrorism prevention training to neighborhood watch groups, or mobilize retired doctors and nurses to respond to a mass casualty situation.

"In this state, we've got a lot of potential for threat," Smith said. "We've got a huge port."

Other states have reported varying degrees of success developing their programs, with some complaining about a lack of money and direction from Washington. The U.S. government is expected to start distributing $3.5 billion for state and local security programs in October.

"There's a lot of money being generated for homeland security, but the money is not here," Correa said. "It's not coming for a while, but we can't wait."

Bioterrorism is a particular concern.

"I don't think any state in this country is prepared for bioterrorism the way it should be," Correa said. "(But) right now, with all the law enforcement agencies involved, we feel very comfortable with who goes where."

The proximity of military commands, law enforcement and emergency service providers on O'ahu has served to fast-forward coordination more than in states where agencies may be more distant, geographically and cooperatively.

"We know each other (and) we've worked together enough," Smith said.

Interagency disaster readiness exercises that have been held for years here and were focused on tsunamis and hurricanes have been retooled to include terrorism. Five major multi-agency exercises already have been held, and more are planned.

Additionally, Smith said two "quick-reaction" forces have been established "that are always in a state of readiness to get on helicopters and move somewhere."

"Prior to Sept. 11, our focus was really on the weatherman, as opposed to the guy with the intelligence," Correa said. "Today that has changed."

By early October, the state had color-coded threat levels — green, amber, red and black — which Correa said served as a model for the national version announced by Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge.

Hawai'i is among states without a separate office for homeland defense. National Guard spokesman Maj. Chuck Anthony said it has not been needed.

The state's Department of Defense, which includes the Guard and state Civil Defense, had been in the forefront of coordinating Hawai'i's anti-terrorism efforts before Sept. 11, and there was no need to start up a new office with people and plans in place, Anthony said.

Before the terrorism on the East Coast, Attorney General John Ashcroft directed that each state put together an FBI-led joint terrorism task force by 2005.

"Because we've been pretty far ahead of the power curve, ours will be up by July of this year," Smith noted.

A database of more than 200 critical infrastructure locations was developed, including water, telecommunications and electricity services, with plans for terrorism prevention and responses. The Area Security Operations Command and Control System was recently fielded with the military's service component commands, and 12 more of the systems will be put in the hands of agencies such as state Civil Defense and Honolulu Police Department, Smith said.

The Department of Health has applied for an $8.36 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the state lab's ability to work with agents such as anthrax, as well as upgrade infectious disease surveillance and investigation. Word should be received on the money next month, officials said.

Although he couldn't go into specifics, the Hawai'i Guard's Anthony said all the military branches are improving their chemical and biological threat detection and decontamination capabilities.

A $2 millioniplus Hawai'i Guard Civil Support Team with specialized training to respond to chemical, biological and radiological threats is expected to be certified in May, and efforts are being made to secure federal money to build a Training Center of the Pacific in Hawai'i to train firefighters, police, the FBI and military in chemical and biological scenarios.

The harbors and the vast amount of shipping passing through remain a problem, though.

"Is every area prepared? No," Correa said. "We've got all these tankers coming in ... For us, when you talk about borders, our borders are the ocean."

In the meantime, officials will be seeking volunteers and technology to leverage wherever possible to augment old-fashioned guard duty.

The Citizen Corps will be extensive, Correa said.

"This thing that we face extends right down to everyone in the entire community, so it's going to take a concerted effort," he said. "A lot of people are not trained and are unaware of what they need to be looking for."

Smith said the team aspect of efforts such as the Citizen Corps should not be taken lightly.

"It's trying to get everyone a little bit better informed, (because) this is not going to be easy," he said. "(Terrorism) is not going away, unfortunately, until conditions in the world change, and I don't see that happening in my lifetime."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.