GOVERNOR ROWLAND ANNOUNCES NEW HELICOPTERS, BUILDING MEASURES
WILL BOOST HOMELAND SECURITY

Three UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters, $5.5 Million in State Building Security
Improvements Make State More Secure

     Governor John G. Rowland today announced that the Connecticut National Guard has received three new Black Hawk helicopters from the federal government. Governor Rowland was instrumental in the federal approval of eight new Black Hawks for Connecticut. The other five will be received later this year.

    Following the September 11^th attacks, Governor Rowland urged President Bush and the Connecticut Congressional delegation to help states improve their emergency readiness capability by funding the Black Hawks. The helicopters, their crews, and their training missions will all be funded by the federal government. The training missions will incorporate an enhanced security component, including the patrol and protection of key and strategic state assets including power plants.

    Governor Rowland also announced that $5.5 million in funding for State building security improvements will be approved Friday, September 25 ^th by the State Bond Commission, which he chairs. The improvements include building access control systems, video surveillance systems, lighting, and fencing.

    "Homeland security is now a top priority for all states," Governor Rowland said. "Last month, the Justice Department approved Connecticut's Domestic Security Plan. The Black Hawks and the new building measures give us new resources to improve our readiness and response capability."

    In addition to its enhanced homeland security mission, the Black Hawks will perform the following state emergency response missions:

• Weapons of mass destruction protection
• Firefighting
• Medical evacuations
• Emergency rescue
• Hurricane/tornado relief
• Disaster relief

   
    The building security improvements are part of a comprehensive program to improve security in public buildings. In 1999, after the fatal shootings at the Connecticut Lottery Headquarters, Public Act 99-220 set forth new security standards, security audits of State buildings, and a $10 million appropriation to implement improved security measures. $4.5 million has already been allocated, and the $5.5 million to be approved on January 25th is the final allocation for improvements to state facilities.

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