Anniston Star
September 26, 2002

FEMA wants Army to raise preparedness funding

By Jason Landers
Star Staff Writer

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is recommending that the Army fund an additional $26.94 million to safeguard local school children in the unlikely event of a chemical accident at the Anniston Army Depot.

In a recent letter, FEMA suggested the money is the price tag for making 27 schools and daycare facilities airtight, and covering the cost of an enhanced shelter-in-place program at four "special facilities."

"We will continue to work with you and the community to ensure that the public is protected, including schoolchildren in the immediate response zone," a letter from FEMA to the director of the state Emergency Management Agency said. EMA received the letter on Wednesday, officials said.

The letter is dated Sept. 17. It is the first time the agency has committed in writing to support the additional emergency preparedness measures. In August, FEMA verbally committed to support additional school overpressurization, a system that keeps contaminated air from entering a building. The system already has been installed at schools in Bynum, Coldwater and Wellborn.

"That's a step in the right direction, for FEMA to be willing to recommend that to the Army," said Calhoun County School Superintendent Jacky Sparks. "I believe that recommendation will carry a lot of weight. I am very pleased that FEMA has come around to agree with us and that they have put it in writing."

Sparks, who learned of the recommendation Wednesday, said he hopes the Army will make the funds available. The money would provide overpressurization to about 8,000 students in several systems, he said.

Facilities requesting overpressurization include:

· C.E. Hanna Elementary
· Trinity Christian School Gym
· Constantine Early Head Start
· Evelyn D. Hall Head Start
· Oxford Elementary School
· Weaver MID/High School
· Anniston High School
· Oxford Middle School
· Oxford Special Education
· Oxford High School
· Weaver Elementary School
· Anniston Middle School
· Saks High School
· Saks Middle School
· Saks Elementary School
· Sacred Heart Catholic School
· Constantine Elementary
· Cobb Elementary School
· Tenth Street Elementary
· Donoho Lower School
· Golden Springs ES
· Rest Haven Missionary Baptist
· 17th Street Baptist Day Care
· Faith Christian Academy
· Ohatchee Elementary School
· Ohatchee High School
· Lincoln Elementary School

FEMA estimates the total cost of overpressurizing these facilities at $40.6 million. It calculates an additional $1.94 million is needed for enhanced shelter-in-place protection at Carver Community Center, Glen Addie Community Center, the Anniston City Jail and the Calhoun County Jail.

The government was budgeted to spend $15.6 million on some of these projects for fiscal year 2003. FEMA subtracted that money from the estimated costs to arrive at the calculation that an additional $26.94 million is needed to fully fund all of the projects.

Army officials were unavailable Wednesday for comment about the FEMA recommendation.

In Montgomery, Gov. Don Siegelman applauded the recommendation.

"FEMA's follow through on its promise to seek funding for the overpressurization of these
schools is another step in the right direction toward ensuring the safety of our school children and all citizens in Anniston, Calhoun County and the surrounding region," said Mike Kanarick, a spokesman for the governor.

"Our work is not yet done," Kanarick said. "As we saw last week in a very inappropriate display by the Army, we must continue to fight hard to make sure the Army has the best interest of Alabamians in mind as we move forward."

He was alluding to reports that the Army was preparing to mount a smear campaign against local and state agencies that failed to participate in preparedness exercises.

Kanarick said the governor will press the Army to accept FEMA's recommendation and implement the safeguards in a timely fashion.

Overpressurization was a topic in a letter sent Wednesday from the Calhoun County Commission to Congressman Bob Riley, who plans to meet today with the Army official who oversees the chemical demilitarization program. Riley scheduled the meeting with Dr. Mario Fiori on the day that reports surfaced about the Army's alleged smear campaign.

"I'm glad FEMA sees the light," said Commission Chairman Lea Fite. "Hopefully we can proceed on protecting our school children."