The terrorist bombings in London on Thursday forced officials in Colorado to review response plans developed since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Gov. Bill Owens assembled officials at the state’s new terrorist-response center, warning leaders throughout the state to stand at alert and calling on citizens to be vigilant.
“There are probably thousands of potential targets in Colorado – roads and bridges and power structures and refineries and banks and buildings – and in a really free society, it’s almost impossible to protect every potential target,” Owens said.
But he added, “We don’t have any intelligence at this time indicating similar attacks may be planned in Colorado or even in the United States.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday raised the threat level for the nation’s transit systems from yellow, or elevated, to orange, or high. And the Regional Transportation District, the largest transit system in Colorado, said it “enhanced” security in response.
Phillip Washington, assistant general manager for the agency, said RTD stepped up patrols and encouraged riders to watch for suspicious behavior.
Since Sept. 11, RTD has spent about $6 million in federal grants on surveillance cameras, improved radio equipment, employee training programs and bomb-resistant garbage containers at bus stops.
Last year, RTD simulated a suicide bomb attack at Union Station to test the preparedness of first-response teams to an emergency, said John Tarbert, RTD’s manager of security.
Health-care, emergency-response and law-enforcement officials throughout metro Denver said they have taken significant steps to prepare for a disaster:
Denver
The Denver Fire Department has completed six full-scale drills, named a special operations coordinator and built relations with other agencies, said Denver Fire Chief Larry Trujillo.
The agency also has used grant funding to buy a new vehicle to handle hazardous materials at Denver International Airport.
“We are light years ahead of where we were two years ago,” Trujillo said.
Health care
“We’re certainly better prepared than we were several years ago, and we will be better prepared tomorrow than we are today,” said Dr. Stephen Cantrill, associate medical director for Denver Health.
The state has purchased “surge trailers” that would allow emergency crews to set up cots at impromptu treatment sites – a response to a 2003 study that found the Front Range had about 1,000 fewer hospital beds than it would need to handle victims of a significant attack.
And, in case of a bioterrorism attack, the state has stashed away a cache of medical supplies in secret locations.
Douglas H. Benevento, executive director of the state health department said, “I think we are as prepared as we can be.”
Through a $2.3 million federal grant, about 12,000 health care providers across the state have come to Denver Health for training on how to treat victims of terrorist attacks, Cantrill said.
South Metro
Since Sept. 11, south-metro authorities have trained civilians to deal with disasters and coordinating regional response.
More than 400 residents have volunteered for the Citizens Emergency Response Team, coordinated through the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and South Metro Fire and Rescue. Residents have learned basic search and rescue, first aid and evacuation during simulated terrorist attacks and natural disasters at Southglenn Mall in Centennial, said Sheriff Grayson Robinson.
Adams County
For Thornton police Commander Steve Ritter, the London attacks hit home. Ritter’s adult daughter, Susan, a teacher, is in London working on a master’s degree in drama. She and a few fellow teachers were to have used one of the train stations bombed Thursday morning, Ritter said, but, when one of the teachers was late, they changed their route. Ritter received a call at 4:37 a.m. Thursday from his daughter, letting him know she was OK.
“If there’s someone up there, he’s smiling on her,” Ritter said.
Ritter said every Thornton officer now carries a bag filled with gear to handle an attack, and Thornton officers are going through National Incident Management System training to learn how to deal with major events and tragedies.
Boulder
Police Chief Mark Beckner said preparing for a chemical attack is now par for the course. Patrol cars come standard with suits to protect officers in the event of a chemical attack.
“I’d say we are definitely more aware,” Beckner said.
Jefferson County
With some of its grant funding, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has purchased a bomb truck for regional response.
“We feel like we’re pretty well-prepared to respond to terrorists,” said sheriff spokesman Jim Shires.
Staff writers Karen Auge, Bruce Finley, Manny Gonzales, John Ingold, Jeffrey Leib, George Merritt, Ann Schrader and Abbe Smith contributed to this report.
