By Rebecca Goldfine,Staff Writer

PARIS – A state task force that has the job of evaluating Maine’s homeland security visited the Oxford Hills area Monday to hear from people representing various facets of their communities.

Nine members of the task force met at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School and listened to many professionals in the field of emergency management. The task force also heard comments from the public at the end of the five-hour forum.

Members of the task force asked the speakers how they were prepared in the event of a disaster. And although different responses were made and details varied, a common theme in the answers was, there is more that can be done.

But Maine is facing dwindling funds to pay for disaster preparedness. Federal funds for homeland security have been sliced from $15 million in 2005 to $7 million in 2006, according to Art Cleaves, director of Maine Emergency Management Agency.

The task force, in a media announcement, claims it is focusing on how the state should allocate its resources, as well as look at the best way to prepare for a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. It was formed in the last Legislature to explore security and disaster preparedness, but is especially timely after Hurricane Katrina and in the looming fear of a possible avian flu pandemic.

Two panels of local leaders spoke about their organizations, and included hospital personnel, a school superintendent, fire officials and emergency management directors.

Many concerns were raised, such as the lack of enough hospital beds to deal with a widespread disaster and the incompatibility and inadequacy of communications equipment.

Wayne Gallant, Wilton police chief, said even though police have updated radios and computers, they often have a hard time communicating because of inadequate communications infrastructure.

Kathy Bonney of Stephens Memorial Hospital and Bridgton Fire Chief Thomas Harriman said they were worried funding for necessities, including training, would dry up.

And increasing demands on organizations to be prepared for emergencies is also taxing volunteers and employees trying to get regular day-to-day work done, others said.

Several residents came forward to touch on topics not mentioned by the professionals. Julie Peterson of Norway said she’s a mental health worker who volunteered in the Gulf Coast after the hurricane. She said, “Don’t underestimate the power of the ordinary person.” She asked the task force to keep these citizens in mind during their planning.

One of the residents who chose to speak, Dr. Peter Wilk, co-president for Maine’s chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, said, “This task force must take a leadership role in demanding that Washington, D.C., change its misplaced spending priorities,” including the Iraq war and tax cuts, to free up funding to protect the people.

Finally, Marge Medd of Norway said residents are now ready to pay attention to disaster preparedness. “You’ve got our attention, we’re listening, and we want to make sure,” she said.