SEN. COLLINS HELPS TO LAUNCH NEW EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IN PORTLAND

Portland, ME – Senator Susan Collins today helped to launch the new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Portland. The new facility, located at the Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS) on Allen Avenue, will serve as the main Incident Command Center for First Responders and Port Security to help prepare for, prevent, and react to terrorist attacks and other disasters. The new center includes state of the art technology that allows emergency management and law enforcement personnel to monitor local, state, and national events as well as weather situations such as hurricanes.

"America's first line of defense in any terrorist attack is our first responder community – firefighters, law enforcement personnel, emergency medical technicians, and other emergency management workers. Many are volunteers, but all are professionals. Together, you form a mighty army terrorism cannot defeat," said Senator Collins today at a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the EOC. "It is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that first responders have the training and equipment the need to keep our communities safe. Training and equipping this great army is a central mission of the Department of Homeland Security. As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am committed to seeing that the Department fulfills that mission. This new Emergency Operations Center is significant step toward that end."

The EOC is a product of a cooperative effort by local, state, and federal governments. It is funded by State Homeland Security Grant and Port Security Grant funds. It was designed to ensure interoperability between first responder and emergency management departments, including being available to the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration for training, exercises, and actual events response.

"The center is exactly what we have fought so hard for – a true partnership between federal, state, and local homeland security efforts," said Senator Collins. "It also underscores my conviction that port security will prove to be an increasingly vital component of homeland security in the years to come. I am very proud that this excellent role model exists in my home state."

Senator Collins is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate recently approved a budget amendment offered by Senator Collins that restores $565 million for state homeland security programs that support first responders. Senators Collins has also introduced legislation that would redefine the federal homeland security funding formula to target billions of dollars toward high risk states and cities while ensuring that all states receive the resources needed to prevent and be prepared for potential terrorist acts.

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