States forge ahead with anti-terror plans despite federal lags

SAVANNAH - While U.S. lawmakers battle over details of a Homeland Security department, states are forging ahead with anti-terrorism plans that need billions of federal dollars to be fully implemented. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re ready to do a lot as soon as the funding comes in,&#39;&#39; said Mickey Lloyd, Georgia&#39;s deputy commissioner of Public Safety, who said the state expects $125 million for homeland security. ``I don&#39;t think it&#39;s put us behind. It would give us a giant step forward at this point.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Governors&#39; security advisers from seven states and the Virgin Islands attended a two-day summit by the National Governors Association to swap ideas on combating terrorism. They came from Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia. <br> <br> All the states share priorities such as securing funding and sharing information between state, local and federal authorities. But their individual approaches also highlight the complexity of guarding against terrorism on numerous fronts. <br> <br> Pennsylvania is setting up a computer network linking 130 hospitals and 50,000 doctors to monitor trends that may lead to early detection of a bioterror attack. <br> <br> Iowa plans to stockpile veterinary drugs to protect livestock if terrorists attempt to plague the farm belt&#39;s food supply. <br> <br> The Virgin Islands, a U.S. territory, is seeking to root out and break the connection between drugs and terrorists, who may fund their activities by trading narcotics. <br> <br> ``We feel the states are going to be the strongest in countering terrorism, not individually but by working together,&#39;&#39; said Earl Freilino, director of Pennsylvania&#39;s homeland security office and a former FBI agent. ``The state and local governments are the frontline.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> So far, state have shouldered the bulk of new funding for new equipment for health agencies, law enforcement and emergency managers as well as networking technology that allows those agencies to seamlessly share information. <br> <br> The money will help states fund big projects such as satellite imaging systems to watch government buildings and other potential targets. <br> <br> But it will also filter to local agencies such as police and fire departments in the form of gas masks and hazardous materials suits, which is critical for states forging partnerships at the local level. <br> <br> ``I&#39;d like to have that money because I can literally change behaviors with it,&#39;&#39; said Clifford Ong, homeland security director for Indiana. ``Local governments respond very poorly to unfunded mandates.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Georgia and Utah, which hosted Olympics in 1996 and 2002, already had experience in preparing for possible attacks. Other states have hurried to devise plans that will hold even when administrations change, with at least 21 new governors taking office after next week&#39;s elections. <br> <br> ``I had to beg governors to come to meetings&#39;&#39; before Sept. 11, 2001, said Ann Beauchesne, director of the homeland security division of the National Governors Association. ``Prior to 9-11, states weren&#39;t out there protecting buildings and tunnels and nuclear power plants.&#39;&#39;