In light of the recent national terrorist threat alert, Hoboken Mayor David Roberts issued an official statement Tuesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has put the nation on an “orange alert” status, indicating that threats to private citizens from terrorists may be imminent.
The federal warning system has three levels of concern: Yellow, orange and red. Under a yellow alert, the FBI sends out notices to law enforcement officials in areas suspected of possible terrorist activity. A yellow alert means there is a significant risk of attack. An orange alert spurs numerous increases in security, such as the locking down of possible targets, and under this provision, the U.S. Government could put the military on notice to back up local law enforcement agencies in case of an attack. Red alert, the highest level of concern, means that an area is under severe risk of attack.
“The federal Department of Homeland Security on Friday, Feb. 7, advised the City of Hoboken and other communities that the national security alert has been upgraded to orange, the second highest level,” said Roberts last week in an official statement. “I am working with Police Chief Carmen LaBruno, the Hoboken Fire Department HAZMAT Unit, the Hoboken Office of Emergency Management, and the Port Authority and NJ Transit police departments to increase patrols, specifically for ‘soft targets’ such as high rise buildings, Stevens Institute, synagogues, bridges and tunnels, and public monuments. We have alerted community and religious leaders of the situation and are continually monitoring developments.”
Tuesday, Roberts told the Reporter that the police department has sent extra patrols to sensitive areas. “Our first priority was to protect our synagogue, and the high rises on Stevens’ campus and on the waterfront,” said Roberts.
According to Roberts, when the synagogue has services, there are police in cars and on foot at the site.
“From the moment the orange warning was issued, we took immediate action and we have placed our resources where we believe they will be most effective,” Roberts said.
Roberts also said the city has put its Hazardous Materials Unit on high alert. Since Sept. 11, 25 local firefighters have completed an intensive 80-hour program conducted by the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) to become Hazardous Material Technicians.
The unit, which is based out of the firehouse at Eighth and Clinton streets, has purchased this past year with the aid of state and local grants, six Kevlar encapsulation suits for HazMat workers at a cost of $1,400 each. The HFD also bought miscellaneous equipment to detect various gasses, chemical agents, and biological agents such as anthrax, a high tech communications system to be used while the firefighters are in the suits, heaters and cool mist fans, and new oxygen tanks.
Also, at the Feb. 5 City Council meeting, the city’s governing body announced it is creating office space in City Hall for Hoboken’s Officer of Emergency Management. The city OEM position is a part-time job that is currently filled by Hoboken Police Lt. James Fitzsimmons at a salary of approximately $20,000. According to City Business Administrator Robert Drasheff, the new office space will serve as a “home base” for coordination if there is a serious emergency situation. On Sept. 11, 2001 the mayor’s conference room became a makeshift command center. If a similar incident were to occur, there is a space in City Hall to coordinate the city’s response, said Drasheff.
It was also learned Wednesday that Fitzsimmons, the mayor, and officials from the Port Authority and NJ Transit had met that day to discuss how to coordinate the protection of the city’s transportation hub, where there is train, PATH, and ferry service. For safety reasons, much of the Port Authority and city’s strategy is kept confidential. Bill Campbell, the mayor’s spokesperson, said there is a heightened level of protection at the PATH, with a substantial number of additional plain-clothed officers.
On the county level
One effect of the orange alert status in Hudson County was the locking down of water facilities such as reservoirs, sewerage treatment plants, and other venues that could be used as a distribution vehicle for biological or chemical weapons.
After the attack on the World Trade Center, the state has issued a variety of measures to secure water treatment areas, including the installation of video cameras and barbed wired fences.
Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, the state Assembly’s chairperson for Homeland Security and State Preparedness, said that Hudson County hospitals are reporting patterns of treatment to the Hudson County Regional Health Commission.
“These reports are not dealing with the diagnosis, just the symptoms being treated,” said Quigley.
Quigley said. “Hudson Regional puts this data into computers which have programs that will alert us to clusters of activity. In this way we get to scan for possible bio-terrorism activities.”
Quigley said the three hospitals she represents in the Bon Secours medical system, St. Mary in Hoboken, Christ Hospital in Jersey City, and St. Francis Hospital in Jersey City have teams that meet every Friday to discuss disaster plans.
In a telephone interview this week, Quigley said residents of the county should be “cautious,” but not panic.
“I wouldn’t go out and buy duct tape or plastic,” she said. “But I’ve made sure I have adequate water and food in my house for an emergency situation such as a heavy snowstorm or a hurricane, or any event that would require you to remain in your home for a few days.”
This means stocking up on batteries, candles, and other items needed in case power should go out, and making certain to have extra blankets and other items for warmth should heat be affected.
Quigley also commented, “We have been talking with people about additional security, such as checking identification of people coming and going into buildings. We’ve reminded our own hospital staffs to carry their identification with them in case they have to come back. Only those with proper identification will get through police lines in case of an emergency.”
Quigley is also encouraging tenants of larger buildings and management of buildings with numerous clients to set up and review emergency evacuation plans.
“They should have more than one plan to get out,” she said, “in case the main stairs are inaccessible. They should also check to make sure doors are not locked at the bottom, or that the exit they take does not lead out into an area being used by fire or other emergency apparatus.”
Residents in home or offices should also check their smoke detectors as well as the status and location of fire extinguishers.
“You should use common sense, but you shouldn’t panic,” Quigley said. “The alert means that we should be vigilant.”
People who take prescription drugs should also renew their prescriptions.
How to hear
Presently, various public safety groups are meeting and talking about what to do in case of an attack, Quigley said. Hudson County responded well to the Sept. 11 attack, but that event also showed some weaknesses in the general system, such as communications between various police, fire, and other emergency services.
“We have our emergency services talking to each other and devising general plans,” she said. “If there is an emergency, we have a command system.”
Residents will be notified through a variety of communications. Every radio and cable TV station will broadcast emergency information.
“The police will also send out vehicles with loud speakers,” Quigley said.
In the event of a major disaster, the county’s OEM coordinates various groups from medical services, fire and police departments, and the Department of Public Works in each municipality and county.
“We currently have a snag we’re working out,” Quigley said. “The way the system works currently is that the information goes to the law enforcement agency, not to the Office of Emergency Management.”