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Bay area safer, so gets less money

Homeland Security's ranking of the region based on terrorism risk means less funding for disaster preparedness and hurricane response.

By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published January 5, 2006

TAMPA - The Department of Homeland Security says the Tampa Bay area is at lower risk of terrorism or another disaster than before, which sounds like good news. But local law enforcement agencies say it also means they'll likely have fewer federal dollars for disaster preparedness and a new communications system to use after a major hurricane.

For three years, emergency management, law enforcement and other agencies from Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have teamed up as the Tampa Bay Urban Area Security Initiative, a metropolitan group eligible for federal security money.

The Tampa Bay area received $9.7-million last year, and some $23-million overall to beef up software and equipment for first responders. But in fiscal year 2006, the checks are expected to shrink or stay flat - despite Tampa being home to U.S. Central Command, a major port and an upcoming Super Bowl.

"To say there should be less funds coming to Tampa because it's less of a risky place doesn't make sense," said Dan McLaughlin, spokesman for Florida's Sen. Bill Nelson, who is touting a bill that would change the criteria for how Homeland Security doles out money.

The threat of a major hurricane should have persuaded federal officials to keep the area eligible for higher funding, said Hillsborough County Emergency Manager Larry Gispert. "We were thinking more globally than just terrorism," Gispert said of how the money is used. "The real day-to-day threat to us, without question, was weather."

Congressional cuts caused the belt-tightening, which also downgraded cities like San Diego, leaving Homeland Security with $765-million to give cities. Federal officials offered little explanation for how they arrived at their rankings, exasperating some bay area officials who wondered how cities like Memphis, Tenn., ranked higher.

"The frustration comes in, in that we're not privy to the criteria that's used," said Jane Castor, a Tampa police assistant chief who is the point of contact for the Tampa Bay security initiative.

At a news conference, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said several factors, including population, proximity to international borders and infrastructure vulnerabilities, were weighed. Using Homeland Security money and consultants, Tampa Bay's communication capabilities are under review this year for an upgrade that would help agencies better coordinate after disaster. There's no final cost, but Castor said the metro area will ask for $10-million a year over three or four years to finish the job. Other needs will take a back seat.

A new public safety communications system would knit Pinellas and Hillsborough county agencies together and include data storage, dispatch centers and radios. Communicating after a disaster has become a top priority nationwide, highlighted by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Castor said. That hurricane destroyed most communication networks, including land lines and cell phones, hindering the job of emergency responders.

Whether Tampa Bay gets money for its goal, however, remains to be seen, she said.

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 01:17:09]