Homeland Security Undersecretary cautions Iowans against complacency

The Undersecretary for Homeland Security told Iowa emergency management directors today to not get complacent about terrorism preparedness. Michael Brown says being prepared for terrorism is important — even in the Midwest. Brown says he knows everyone thinks New York and Washington, D-C will continue to be terrorist targets. He says that may or may not be right, but he says he knows for a fact that Mother Nature is going to attack Iowa. He says it’ll be an a tornado, a flood or an ice storm that’ll have the same kind of effect as a terrorist event. He says we can never forget that we still face natural and man-made disasters and we can’t let complacency about terrorism spill over into complacency about natural or man-made disasters. Brown was the keynote speaker at the Governor’s second annual homeland security conference. He says he’s impress with the way Iowa’s used its federal funding for homeland security. Brown says he was very encouraged in the conference to hear about the regionalization. He says every town doesn’t need a SWAT team, and every town doesn’t need a HAZMAT (Hazard Materials) team. He says sharing resources is the way to do business when you have limited resources. Brown says most people still believe the threat of terrorist attack is smaller in the midwest, but he says that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prepare. He says that’s why there’s been an increase in focus on agri-terrorism. Brown says that’s a smart move and we need to be aware that’s agriculture is vulnerable area. Brown is also the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.