[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRAINING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2002

  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, protecting the people of the United States 
is Congress' number one responsibility. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist 
attacks, we have passed laws in the House to improve our readiness at 
home, and our agencies are meeting with state and local governments to 
share information and formulate emergency plans with our first 
responders.
  I wanted to let you know about a private initiative that took place 
this summer in the district I represent that will improve local 
readiness and help protect the people in northern Illinois.
  On July 20, 2002, Marathon Ashland Petroleum invited members of the 
Winnebago, Rockford, Blackhawk, Win-Bur-Sew, West Suburban, Byron and 
North West fire departments, along with the Winnebago County Sheriff's 
Department and Bomb Disposal Team to a full-scale bomb drill at its 
Rockford terminal. The drill was designed to not only familiarize 
local, area and regional responders with the terminal's facilities and 
equipment, but to also train and prepare our first responders for a 
credible threat against the terminal. The drill was the first of its 
kind in the petroleum industry following the Sept. 11 attacks on our 
nation.
  The all-day event began with tours of the facility and opportunities 
for police and fire responders to familiarize themselves with the 
equipment and set-up at the terminal, which can store up to 20 million 
gallons of fuel, including gasoline and diesel. The Winnebago County 
Bomb Squad then participated in a simulation where area Emergency 
Medical Technicians were able to familiarize themselves with the 
special suits that bomb squad members must wear.
  The bomb squad commander, Chris Cowan, then briefed drill 
participants on likely tactics and targets within the terminal that 
terrorists might consider. A safety discussion and tips for locating a 
device followed.
  The day was capped off with a detonation of a small explosive device 
designed to show the impact that even a small device can make.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of leadership from our local 
governments and our business community that we need to win the war on 
terrorism and protect our homeland. We in Congress have passed 
legislation to tighten security in America and provide funding to help 
our nation prepare. But our first responders in our communities are the 
ones who will make homeland security work.
  The people at Marathon Ashland Petroleum and the brave police 
officers, firefighters, and EMTs from northern Illinois are leading the 
charge to protect our people. And I commend them for that.

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