It's easy to think not much has changed in the last three years since Sept. 11, 2001, but I'd like to share some interesting facts I learned recently.

Shortly after the 911 Commission Report was issued, Asa Hutchinson, under secretary of the Department of Homeland Security's Borders & Transportation Security Directorate, spoke at a security and emergency response conference. Hutchinson said, "America cannot be secured from Washington, D.C., but only through partnerships at the state and local level with people in this room." He added, "The Commission has performed a difficult service for our country. They have provided a historical accounting of the attack, but just as importantly, the Commission's report has set forth ideas for the future."

Hutchinson said the insight and recommendations of the 911-Commission's report were studied very carefully, and they reaffirmed the directives that DHS has taken to prevent future attacks. The new intelligence system and director it proposed are of course among the "big-ticket items" in the Commission's recommendations. The report also emphasized improving information-sharing and the security of the full breadth of the transportation system. He believes that they have taken those steps.

Hutchinson had a long, interesting list of before and after 9/11 statistics. Before 9/11, security was an airline clerk asking questions, he noted. Today, there are "layers of security from curbside to cockpit" and 100% baggage screening, he said.

Before 9/11, visitors entering the United States met three different inspectors -- Customs, Immigration and Agriculture -- and all three reported to three different agencies. Today, a visitor encounters one Customs and Border Protection inspector, cross-trained in all three functions. In the last 2 1/2 months, 387 individuals who posed a risk to the country were turned away, and 15 allegedly had ties with terrorism.

Before 9/11 false IDs were a problem. Today, advanced biometric technology can compare the digital finger scans and photographs submitted with the visa application taken in a foreign country with scans taken upon arrival in the U.S., and tell inspectors within seconds if it's the same person.

In the first seven months of operation, US-VISIT has processed more than 7.3 million foreign national applicants for admission at air and sea ports of entry. During that time, 674 individuals were identified by biometrics alone as subjects of a lookout and, in accordance with immigration laws, were prevented from entering the United States. Of the 674 "hits," 64% were for criminal violations and 36% for immigration violations.

The eyebrow-raiser was when Hutchinson said that this year the DHS introduced a comprehensive check of foreign flight crews. The screening found 12 pilots who pose a risk to our security: Nine were on a terrorist watch list, two carried false passports and one matched a criminal database.

In a crosscheck of 2.7 million drivers of hazardous materials against a terrorist watch list, 29 truckers had suspicious records. Railroad security and inspection of air, land and sea cargo are being developed.

While these statistics relate to air and land security, there might be a few lessons gleaned from these numbers for your department. Career departments probably do background checks on new personnel, but do volunteer fire departments? How frequently do you check your apparatus drivers for a current driver's license? Are your personnel certifications up to date or expired? Training class records up to date? Emergency contacts or next of kin current? Are medical and vaccination records current?

In keeping with the current focus on firefighter safety, have you thought about checking firefighters' blood pressures after an incident?

I heard the story of a bogus "city" ambulance responding to calls within a large city in Ohio. You may think your job is just about responding to emergencies, but make sure security is part of your strategy.

Janet Wilmoth, Editor