Huntington on alert with rest of nation

Jenny Marder

Huntington Beach has stepped up security since the nation was put on

high alert for terrorism on Sunday by the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security.

While no intelligence indicates that the city is in danger, all

public safety departments -- police, fire, marine safety and public

works -- are preparing for a threat.

“It’s a nationwide threat,” said Glorria Morrison, the city’s

emergency services coordinator. “If we get information that it’s a

threat to Orange County and Huntington Beach, then we would take even

higher precautions. ... For now, we’re stepping everything up a

notch, we’re stepping up security at every facility.”

All but one entrance to City Hall has been locked. All city

vehicles are fueled up and ready to go. Shortages in supplies and

equipment have been identified, and police are keeping an eye on

certain areas that they consider especially vulnerable. Information

on terrorism and the city’s disaster plan has been made available to

the public at the emergency services department and on the Huntington

Beach Fire Department Web site.

“We’re reviewing our operational plans, we’re reviewing our

equipment, we’re making sure we are operationally ready to respond,”

said Charles Reynolds, weapons of mass destruction project manager.

If the threat to the city was heightened, staffing levels in

police, fire and marine safety would all increase.

All public safety officials and emergency operations center

personnel in the city have been engaged in intensive training since

March 2000 to prepare for a possible biological, chemical or

radiological attack.

Huntington Beach is one of 120 cities nationwide to receive

federal grant funding from the Department of Justice. The city has

already received more than $600,000 in federal funding, which has

been put toward equipment, training and public health materials.

“We’re very well prepared,” Reynolds said. “We’re much better

prepared since Sept. 11 and ready to handle any type of incident,

should it occur.”

Soon, the city will have a decontamination trailer that can

accommodate hundreds of patients exposed to a biological or chemical

attack at once.

The city has detection equipment with sensors that can identify

biological and chemical substances. Radiological monitors can also

determine if there is a radioactive substance in the area.

“We already have the ability to do mass decontamination, and we’re

looking into even more sophisticated equipment,” Reynolds said. “This

has the capability to provide mass decontamination to patients

exposed to weapons of mass destruction incidents.”

Morrison encourages all residents to read the city’s terrorism

brochure. The information can be picked up at the Emergency Services

Office at City Hall or accessed online at https://www.surfcity-hb.org/

citydepartments/fire. For more information, call (714) 536-5974.