For Immediate Release
October 17, 2001
Contact: Rusty Cheuvront (502) 564-2611 or
               Lt. Col. Phil Miller (502) 607-1556

Homeland Security Team Meets To Update Governor

Frankfort, Ky. --  Gov. Paul E. Patton today announced the appointment of State Adjutant General D. Allen Youngman as the commonwealth’s coordinator for homeland security issues.

The announcement came during the second meeting of the Governor’s Homeland Security Team, a consortium of state agency representatives established to manage the state’s preparedness to respond to any potential acts of domestic terrorism.

Having been informed by both State Police Commissioner Ishmon Burke and Public Health Commissioner Rice Leach, that, to-date, all incidents investigated by their agencies had resulted in no substantiated acts of terrorism, the governor again offered reassurance that no evidence of an imminent threat has been found in the commonwealth.

“As I stated last week after our first meeting, I remain confident Kentucky already has an excellent plan in place to ensure the safety of our citizens,” said Gov. Patton, “but in these times of ever changing threats and fluid situations, we must continue to fine tune our existing security measures and also be ready to adapt and overcome new threats if and when they emerge.”  

Among issues discussed at today’s session were:  Ongoing physical security upgrades for state facilities to include the capitol, and that the Governor’s Office of Technology will establish in the near future a Homeland Security website link on the state’s web page (www.kydirect.net) to provide updated security information and answer frequently asked questions. 

Also, Dr. Leach again urged Kentuckians to use common sense when handling mail, saying,  “We don't need to send every letter to law enforcement and laboratories.  Its OK to toss it out if you don't know where it came from and it doesn't worry you. But if something does makes you suspect tampering or a threat, don’t open the mail and call law enforcement.”

The state’s Homeland Security Team will be convened on a regular basis by Cabinet Secretary Crit Luallen to share information and maintain communication between local, state and federal agencies.