MILWAUKEE -- The federal government is quietly monitoring the air in Milwaukee for evidence of a bio-terrorism attack, but 12 News’ Kent Wainscott uncovered some holes in the government’s secret safety net, including late detection time, delayed response and a lack of funding for response initiatives.

Is Milwaukee Prepared For A Bio-Terrorism Attack?

Strategically-placed high-tech monitors secretly stand guard on roof-tops in Milwaukee to give early warning in case of a possible bio-terrorism attack.

"The threat of bioterrorism is a very real threat," said Dr. Eric Toner of the Independent Center for Bio-Security, adding that the government is right to prepare for a bio-terrorism attack but isn't doing it the right way.

"There's no way to prevent bio-terrorism. We need to do a lot more to respond to a bio-terror attack," Toner said.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson feels there is more that can be done to make sure the states are involved in a more coordinated fashion.

As Health and Human Services Secretary, Thompson oversaw the nation's response to perhaps it's most serious bio-terror threat -- the anthrax attacks on government and media offices in the weeks following 9-11.

It was those anthrax attacks, specifically, that prompted the creation of BioWatch.

"Then we had anthrax, then we had a real coordinated effort between CIA, the FBI, dept of justice and HHS and we had task forces set up immediately," Thompson said.

The result, along with a rapid, coordinated health care response was a mega-million dollar anti-terrorism system that, to most people, is as invisible as the air that it monitors.

“It's an invisible safety net and I believe homeland security would prefer to keep it that way," said Paul Biedrzycky of the Milwaukee Health Department.

He said he can't reveal the location, or even the number of monitors around the city, but he believes that six years after its inception, the BioWatch monitor program is not living up to all of its promises. "It has very limited utility for local public health agencies in and of itself," Biedrzycky said.

Biedrzycki said BioWatch is just “one piece of a larger puzzle” of bio-terrorism response, which includes a network of government, law enforcement and health agencies.

12 News has uncovered some other concerns about the BioWatch system, including one so glaring that even casual observers on the street question it.

"I mean if they're going drop something, how quick are you going save me?" Milwaukee resident Mary Blount asked.

Some fear that by the time those monitors can detect something dangerous in the air it may be too late.

"These detectors are not real-time monitors. They give us results hours to days after the release, so it's not clear that they're really useful at this point,” Toner said.

Another concern is that if the monitors were to find something in the air, setting off alarms, the people in charge might not react and take valuable time to question and re-analyze the results. That may sound like an unreasonable fear, but it's actually happened.

There have been instances where natural elements in the air triggered positive readings on the monitors. They were not bio-terrorism attacks but the people watching the monitors didn't know that. However, there was no full-scale response. Fortunately, one wasn't necessary.

"We're kind of on pins and needles anytime there is what we refer to as a BAR, a BioWatch actionable result, from the network,” Biedrzycky said.

Has there been one in Milwaukee?

“There has not been one here, knock on wood. There have been BARs in cities in the Midwest including Indianapolis and Detroit,” Biedrzycki said.

At the same time, much of the public remains unconvinced that the monitors are worthwhile in cities like Milwaukee.

“They want to spend the money on dust in the air, I mean, it's not worth it to me," Milwaukee resident Bobby Jacoby said. Others feel it is a waste of money.

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding BioWatch is what happens after an attack.

While the federal government has poured millions of dollars into the monitoring system, health experts say it has failed to properly fund response initiatives like public health clinics, distribution of vaccines, or even monitoring the spread of any threat.

In other words, if there were a bio-terrorism agent in the air, would the response be sufficient to protect people?

“The question you're asking is, ‘Is that enough?’ And my answer is, ‘No.’ And the people that are questioning that are absolutely correct,” Thompson said.

Toner feels the same.

"I think some of the federal priorities have been misguided. A lot of effort has been put on detection systems that are unproven and interdiction systems which are not likely to be successful,” Toner said.

Without more focus on the public health response to a possible attack, what security do the bio-watch monitors provide for people in cities like Milwaukee? Some experts say -- not much.

“At this point I would say that people who are in cities with BioWatch monitors are no safer than people who are in cities without Bio-Watch monitors,” Toner said.

Another concern -- all of the air monitors are outside. If a bio-terror agent were released in an indoor facility, there are questions about how quickly the monitors would detect it.

Still, most of the people 12 News spoke with believe BioWatch is a valuable tool, but not alone. Many of them say more emphasis needs to be placed on other aspects of emergency protection like law enforcement and health care response.

The government is expanding Bio-Watch and also improving it. It is working on ways to detect hazards faster and on adding some indoor sensors.