(AP) — ANNISTON, Ala. — The director of homeland security in Alabama told a Congressional panel Tuesday that efforts to prevent or respond to a terrorist attack or natural disaster in rural America could be hampered by manpower and funding shortages.

Jim Walker told a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security that small-town firefighters and police are often unable to receive training available to those in urban areas.

Walker told the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight that rural law enforcement agencies often have only one person at each position and can't send anyone to training sessions. Walker also said fewer people are choosing to work as police officers or firefighters.

The subcommittee met Tuesday at the Auburn University Canine Research and Training Center, where dogs are trained to detect illegal drugs, firearms and unsafe food. The center is located at the now closed Fort McClellan Army base.

One witness before the committee, Jacksonville State University President William Meehan, said the north Alabama school operates several programs to train students in areas related to homeland security.

Meehan told committee chairman U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa., that rural areas are just as likely to be the targets for terrorists as urban areas.

"Take Wal-Mart for example. Bombing rural Wal-Marts would be devastating to America," Meehan said.

Committee member U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from nearby Saks, said he doesn't believe it's far-fetched that terrorists would target rural America, where residents live quiet lives and generally consider themselves immune from criminals and terrorists.

"Terrorists at some point may recognize they show Americans how vulnerable they are by hitting in a rural area," Rogers said.

Because of that, Rogers said he agrees with Walker that training opportunities for small-town police officers and firefighters need to be increased.

He said rural areas are also vulnerable to natural disasters, using as an example the tornado that hit Enterprise in southeast Alabama last year, killing nine people, including eight students at Enterprise High School.

Walker told the congressmen one of the challenges in rural areas is that most firefighters are volunteers.

"Volunteer firefighters represent approximately 80 percent of the total fire service organizations in Alabama. As volunteer organizations, they are routinely in need of new equipment and funds to help them train and conduct exercises," Walker said in his testimony.

Walker said homeland security grants approved by Congress had helped improve public safety equipment in rural areas and urged the lawmakers to continue the grants.

He said both rural and urban areas need to be ready for future terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

"We must develop and sustain capabilities everywhere, even in rural America," Walker said.