In light of the recent national terrorist threat alert, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said last week that local authorities have heightened their vigilance.
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.
"We haven’t changed much since 9/11," Turner said. "We have been on the highest alert since then. We’ve come down a little in terms of police presence, but given the amount of travel in and out of town and the mass transit, there were a variety of things we kept in place. We’ve maintained a higher level than we would otherwise."
Turner said that Weehawken has followed the proper protocol set up by the federal government, which has placed the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office’s anti-terrorism council as the chief agency to oversee the entire county.
"We’ve notified the Prosecutor’s Office as to what we’ve assessed as possible soft targets," Turner said. "We’re also working with the Port Authority police to identify soft targets, and our police force is going to be more vigilant than normal."
Turner said that the Port Authority was doing more random checks of vehicles as part of the higher alert Wednesday and Thursday.
"Our police have been on the lookout for more parked cars on the street as well," Turner said.
Turner said that there is an unidentified member of the Weehawken police department who has been designated to participate with the Prosecutor’s Office anti-terrorism unit.
"That officer has been sharing the information with us," Turner said. "The fairly rapid network of other officers within the county has been keeping us up to date as best as possible. High national alert usually translates to high local alert as well."
Turner said that residents should use practical sense in taking the proper precautions.
"People should use their own judgment as to what they should do," Turner said. "It’s definitely on everyone’s minds this weekend, and the county and local police are taking the necessary precautions and doing what is necessary."
Hoboken Mayor David Roberts issued an official statement Tuesday regarding his city.
"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 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."
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."