City Hall holds secret center for emergencies
SM PIER — While reports of a possible terrorist probe focusing on this renowned gathering place may leave some residents jittery, city officials contend they have a plan to address any emergency, including attacks.
News reports released on Thursday indicated suspected Middle Eastern operatives may have been recently surveying the Santa Monica Pier as a possible target. Meanwhile, City Hall — in addition to announcing plans this week to put $2 million toward terrorist prevention efforts — has assured residents it is at the highest level of response should a terrorist act occur in Santa Monica.
Fire Chief Jim Hone explained that in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, cities have been asked to prepare a plan that would allow them to qualify for grant funding to aid disaster response efforts. Cities must show they are prepared to coordinate support for one another on a regional level in the event of a terrorist strike.
Santa Monica is one of 31 fire departments in the Los Angeles County area that belong to the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association, which has helped the region develop its approach to dealing with terrorist attacks that may involve weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
“Because of that regional approach, our fire department, in particular, has benefited by obtaining the equipment and training to bring our urban search and rescue capability from a medium level to the highest level,” Chief Hone said.
The SMFD has used grant funding to purchase equipment, and vehicles to carry the equipment and provide training to personnel for incidents involving WMDs. According to Hone, the department has been able to acquire personal protective equipment on every vehicle that responds to a devastating incident.
Paul Weinberg, City Hall’s emergency services coordinator, said public safety personnel conduct training drills once a month for scenarios that could include terrorist attacks. In addition, a massive drill involving several agencies is staged each year.
Santa Monica has an emergency operations center located within its public safety building that can be used to coordinate response efforts. In addition, City Hall has a secret location where it can conduct similar operations in case the emergency operations center within the public safety building is rendered inoperable.
Weinberg said the public safety building is designed to withstand severe earthquakes, as well as other calamities.
Santa Monicans interested in learning what to do in preparation for an act of terrorism, or how to respond, are urged to log on to the city’s Web site and click on “emergency preparedness.”
Links are available to other government agencies and groups which have beefed up security efforts in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, disseminating information on what citizens can do to help ensure their safety.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 13, 2005. Read the original PDF.