AUGUSTA – Congress is being asked to provide a massive aid package for local emergency agencies to cope with potential terrorist attacks on the United States. Local first responders such as police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel would get $1.5 billion in grants under a measure being introduced today.

“This legislation will help those who are first on the scene of a possible terrorist attack to be as prepared as possible,” said Rep. John Baldacci, D-Maine, who is co-sponsoring the legislation. “We are in a new age and we are going to have to be ready at the local level.”

Under the proposal, the existing Federal Emergency Management Agency program that provides training and equipment grants to local fire departments would be expanded with new grant categories. The plan would allocate $1 billion for grants to pay for equipment and training needed by those first on the scene of an incident that could be a terrorist attack.

“We need to have the situation assessed quickly by those first on the scene and that means both equipment and training,” Baldacci said.

Under the proposal, another $250 million would go to local police to purchase protective equipment as well as for training. Robert Schwarz, executive director of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association said the help is sorely needed by police who are usually the first on the scene of what may be a terrorist attack.

“Few departments have any equipment for this purpose,” he said. “A few do have special action teams that may have gas masks, but not what is really needed.”

Schwarz said he hopes Congress swiftly approves the measure because police will need the special protective gear, and without federal help, local taxpayers will be hit with the tab. The former South Portland police chief said anti-contamination suits and devices to detect gas or biological agents are expensive.

“This legislation is clearly a welcome thing for public safety, and I think for local taxpayers too,” he said.

Officials in Maine, like other states, have acknowledged they are not yet ready to handle a terrorist attack. Few firefighters, police or emergency medical technicians have the equipment they need or the training to use equipment such as poison gas detectors. But Art Cleaves, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, said a program such as the one Baldacci and others are proposing will greatly improve the state’s ability to respond.

“This is really terrific news,” he said. “We certainly need this help and I know my counterparts in other areas of the country will be pleased as well.”

Cleaves said the details of the legislation will be important. He said all states have great needs for both equipment and training, and he hopes all states will get at least a minimum grant if funds are not distributed on a per capita basis.

“We have our planning process in place and we are ready to make use of any additional funds that Congress may approve,” he said.

According to Baldacci, the proposal also would provide $250 million in grants for counterterrorism programs at the state and local level.

The money would go for a variety of purposes, including to help pay for a state coordinator for counterterrorism. Such a person would be charged with making sure all the various agencies in a state are working together.

The concept has bipartisan support in the House. Similar legislation has not been introduced in the Senate, but Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, recently said funding for first responders should be part of the overall response to last month’s terrorist attacks.

“These are the people first at the scene and they must have the equipment and training they need,” she said.

AUGUSTA – Congress is being asked to provide a massive aid package for local emergency agencies to cope with potential terrorist attacks on the United States. Local first responders such as police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel would get $1.5 billion in grants under a measure being introduced today.

“This legislation will help those who are first on the scene of a possible terrorist attack to be as prepared as possible,” said Rep. John Baldacci, D-Maine, who is co-sponsoring the legislation. “We are in a new age and we are going to have to be ready at the local level.”

Under the proposal, the existing Federal Emergency Management Agency program that provides training and equipment grants to local fire departments would be expanded with new grant categories. The plan would allocate $1 billion for grants to pay for equipment and training needed by those first on the scene of an incident that could be a terrorist attack.

“We need to have the situation assessed quickly by those first on the scene and that means both equipment and training,” Baldacci said.

Under the proposal, another $250 million would go to local police to purchase protective equipment as well as for training. Robert Schwarz, executive director of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association said the help is sorely needed by police who are usually the first on the scene of what may be a terrorist attack.

“Few departments have any equipment for this purpose,” he said. “A few do have special action teams that may have gas masks, but not what is really needed.”

Schwarz said he hopes Congress swiftly approves the measure because police will need the special protective gear, and without federal help, local taxpayers will be hit with the tab. The former South Portland police chief said anti-contamination suits and devices to detect gas or biological agents are expensive.

“This legislation is clearly a welcome thing for public safety, and I think for local taxpayers too,” he said.

Officials in Maine, like other states, have acknowledged they are not yet ready to handle a terrorist attack. Few firefighters, police or emergency medical technicians have the equipment they need or the training to use equipment such as poison gas detectors. But Art Cleaves, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, said a program such as the one Baldacci and others are proposing will greatly improve the state’s ability to respond.

“This is really terrific news,” he said. “We certainly need this help and I know my counterparts in other areas of the country will be pleased as well.”

Cleaves said the details of the legislation will be important. He said all states have great needs for both equipment and training, and he hopes all states will get at least a minimum grant if funds are not distributed on a per capita basis.

“We have our planning process in place and we are ready to make use of any additional funds that Congress may approve,” he said.

According to Baldacci, the proposal also would provide $250 million in grants for counterterrorism programs at the state and local level.

The money would go for a variety of purposes, including to help pay for a state coordinator for counterterrorism. Such a person would be charged with making sure all the various agencies in a state are working together.

The concept has bipartisan support in the House. Similar legislation has not been introduced in the Senate, but Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, recently said funding for first responders should be part of the overall response to last month’s terrorist attacks.

“These are the people first at the scene and they must have the equipment and training they need,” she said.