Local officials look at threat of terror attack

According to Klickitat County Sheriff Chris Mace, employees of the Sheriff's Department are working under significant new guidelines.

"We're a lot more cautious around unattended vehicles, and are responding to reports of suspicious people around locks, dams, power generators and the like. That's a little more of a priority than in the past," Mace explained. "Also, we're on alert to monitor the County Courthouse and other buildings, and just trying to be more observant. We encourage citizens to report anything out of the ordinary."

Mace added that his department is receiving daily updates from federal officials regarding the nationwide terrorism investigation.

"If there are people of interest to be on the lookout for, they'll let us know," Mace said. "There is no reason to believe these people are around this area, but they keep us informed."

Mace said the new focus on terrorism is a sad reality.

"It's an unfortunate sign of the times. Nothing can be taken for granted anymore," Mace noted. "Everybody has to be more alert and step up and report things."

Dave Harlan, manager of the Port of Hood River, acknowledged he has been concerned about the security of the Hood River Toll Bridge.

"In the days after Sept. 11, every time a boat speeded toward the bridge I had a little cringe," Harlan said. "The best defense we have is that we're a pretty small fish. To a great extent, the Brooklyn Bridge is a bigger target than this. We're keeping our eyes open and hoping we're not on anybody's radar screen. The implication is they'll hurt others, and that's not a pleasant assumption."

Harlan said the FBI issued a nationwide warning last week that an emergency vehicle, such as a fire truck or ambulance, might be used as a bomb carrier to possibly take out a bridge somewhere.

"I've worried about it," Harlan said. "We're all on edge. Everybody views the world a little differently now."

Perhaps the biggest fear raised in recent days is related to the unleashing of biological or chemical weapons on American citizens. Law enforcement authorities have revealed that one of the terrorist suspects taken into custody had a manual describing the operation of crop-dusting equipment. The manual included information on how to spray lethal toxins.

In response to the potential of an airborne attack, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all crop-dusting aircraft across the United States on Sunday and Monday, and was taking a day-to-day approach on whether to allow them to fly.

John Shearer, owner of Shearer Sprayers -- the crop-dusting company that serves the west end of Klickitat County -- said he believes the threat of terrorists using crop-dusters to mount a chemical or biological attack on American citizens is being overstated.

"I think they're overreacting, but in the overall picture, maybe it's not," Shearer said. "You could do what they presume the terrorists want to do, but you don't need an airplane sprayer to distribute it. Any light plane you could think of could do this."

Shearer Sprayers, based in The Dalles, owns three airplanes and a helicopter for spraying crops. The company employs a total of three pilots, including Shearer himself.

The company was working on pear and apple orchards in the Hood River area when the "no-fly" order was issued by the FAA.

Shearer said he was called by the FBI on Sunday, and agents inquired whether anyone suspicious had visited his business recently.

"They were asking if anyone had asked to lease, rent, buy, or look at our aircraft. No, they haven't," Shearer said.

Shearer added that since the Sept. 11 attack, new rules are in place that prohibit crop-dusters from flying in air space over Portland, Seattle, or other heavily-populated cities.

"We're banned from there, period," he explained.

Shearer pointed out that his company's aircraft are all kept in locked hangars.

"That doesn't mean that would stop terrorists," he said, but he noted that the crop-dusting planes are very difficult for an inexperienced operator to start.

Ron Ihrig, operations manager with the Klickitat Public Utility District, pointed out that the PUD's McNary Dam (as is the case with many Northwest dams) is protected by the Army Corps of Engineers, and as such is expected to have an effective security operation in place.

But Ihrig noted that other PUD assets, such as substations or power lines, are susceptible to attack.

"We have had no threats that I'm aware of," Ihrig said. "Law enforcement or the Federal Emergency Management Agency will notify us if there are any threats, but that may not come until too late."

Ihrig pointed out, however, that most of the PUD's lines or substations feed electricity to no more than 2,000 people, and as such are relatively minor. Further, the PUD has people on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to repair any damage.

Nevertheless, the main Bonneville Power Administration power lines -- which feed the PUD and other utilities -- are more likely to be a potential target, and protecting these lines would be a daunting challenge. Ihrig noted that, with miles and miles of power lines and isolated substations, there is no way to monitor all the equipment all the time.

White Salmon Mayor Roger Holen pointed out that the city and the county have a mobilization plan in place in the event of an emergency situation. He said there was no need for worry.

"There is no reason to anticipate anything happening in this area," Holen said. "However, certain protective efforts would go into effect beyond the usual patrolling. But the last thing we want to do is tell everybody what those procedures would be."

Holen explained that the international battle with terrorism is not going to be a very visible one.

"What you'll see is almost nothing. That's disconcerting to some people, but that's the way it'll turn out," he said.

One threat that has been in the public consciousness since Sept. 11 is whether public water supplies are safe.

Holen said the system of wells serving White Salmon, Bingen, and the Port of Klickitat is relatively secure.

"The water system we now have is not easily contaminated," Holen explained.

A chain-link fence topped with barbed wire is in place at the wellhead site, but Holen conceded there was no active monitoring of the water works.

"There are no armed guards posted at the reservoirs, for example," Holen said. "We just can't do that."

Wil Keyser, head of White Salmon's Public Works Department, said any attempt to tamper with the water would be visible fairly quickly.

"They would have to break into the well house or actually breach the pump line to accomplish anything, and that would be obvious to us," Keyser said. "We are visiting the reservoirs and wellheads twice a day to check to see if any facilities are breached."

In addition, the city is conducting bacteriological tests on the water every day.

In the event of any corruption of the infrastructure, the water system would be shut down until it could be checked for contamination. But Mayor Holen said there was no specific plan in place to alert the public not to drink the water in the meantime.

"These crazy things are a bit alarming to us," Keyser said.

Holen said he believed the rural location of Klickitat County offered a bit of security in itself.

"I just don't think we're on anybody's priority (target) list," he said. "As someone commented to me recently, `Aren't you glad you live in White Salmon?'"

Holen said members of the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department know it's a time to be especially vigilant.

"I've given them the pep talk about keeping their eyes open, but it's preaching to the choir," Holen said. "That's what they do for a living."

Locally, the American Red Cross has designated the Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ in White Salmon as an emergency center where citizens can go in the event of a crisis. The church is located at 480 E. Jewett Blvd.

In another sign of the times, a new, Washington, D.C.-based company called the New Era Survival Research Institute has published a free booklet entitled, Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Attack -- Survival Resource Guide.

"We've published a resource guide to help consumers educate themselves about what to do in the event of a nuclear, biological, or chemical attack," said Paul Richard, a researcher for New Era.

The firm's booklet provides information about "simple, inexpensive things that can be done to improve the chances of survival in a terrorist attack."

Shearer, who has been in the crop-dusting business for the last 50 years, noted that the world has truly changed.

"It has been so surreal," he said. "It's kind of like waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is nothing like I've lived through before."