Warren mayor: We're prepared for possible attacks

Warren was one of three Ohio cities represented at a national conference for mayors.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Participating in a national emergency safety and security summit made Mayor Hank Angelo realize that his city is ahead of the game.
Listening to mayors and safety personnel from cities across the country showed Angelo that Warren has a solid plan in place if terrorism makes its way to Trumbull County.
"I feel very good about what's going on here," he said. "We need to make sure the information flows to the citizens."
The event was this week in Washington, D.C., as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Only three Ohio cities were represented -- Warren, Akron and Toledo.
Angelo was joined by fire Chief Jim Nutt and Police Chief John Mandopoulos.
There was definitely a heightened sense of security at the Capitol Hilton, where the conference was held, Angelo said, explaining that Secret Service personnel were assigned to every floor.
Speakers included Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI director Robert S. Mueller III and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, now in charge of the newly created Office of Homeland Security.
Angelo, Nutt and Mandopoulos flew into Baltimore's airport, where they said security personnel were heavily armed.
The mood at the conference was very somber and serious, Angelo said, noting that a full schedule left little time for anything besides bathroom and food breaks.
Plan drafted: A national action plan was drafted during the conference, a list of suggestions that was forwarded to Ridge.
Organizers touched on transportation and economic security, emergency preparedness, cyber attacks and reimbursement for heightened security, saying American cities have incurred extraordinary costs since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 and the anthrax mailings that followed.
Angelo said officials also stressed how important it is that federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and governments keep in touch. Mayors across the country will have access to a direct phone line to the White House, he added.
Chemical and biological warfare was discussed by Tara O'Toole, deputy director for the Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies, Johns Hopkins University.
Nutt said her discussion "scared the bejeebers out of us all," as it touched on smallpox, chemical attacks and other deadly tactics that could be used by anti-American factions.
Thwarting contamination: One thing stressed during the conference is that the best defense to ward off possible anthrax contamination is for people to wash their hands periodically throughout the day, even when handling mail that's not suspect.
Angelo said Warren officials have and will continue to meet with county commissioners and officials from the Emergency Management Agency.
Area police are collecting suspicious mail reported by citizens, taking them to Warren's Palmyra Road police substation. Officials say the county's hazardous materials team visits the site about once a week to look over items and determine if they should be turned over to the state for testing.
The city of Warren, which supplies much of the county's drinking water, has also undertaken measures to protect Mosquito Lake.
Angelo declined to give specifics and said mayors were encouraged to be straight with the public but not give out information that could give terrorists ideas to circumvent security practices.
He did note that conference attendees were told it would take several large truckloads full of hazardous chemicals to disturb water supplies, because of their large volume.
Local precautions: If citizens come across suspicious mail, Angelo said, they should immediately call 911. Police will secure the area and firefighters will take the materials to the police substation.
Angelo said it's crucial that people don't panic and leave the immediate area or building, or go to the hospital on their own because of the possibility that contamination could spread.
When asked about the possibility that terrorism could strike Trumbull County, Angelo said officials are working under a heightened sense of alert but know that Warren and surrounding areas aren't on the top of any hit lists.
He added that local communities can never be too cautious.
"I feel our community is ready," Nutt added. "We're as ready as we can possibly be."
davis@vindy.com