Domestic terrorism on minds of port officials
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 13, 2010
By ROBIN SHANNON
L’Observateur
RESERVE – At a time in which the threat of domestic terrorism still remains an utmost concern in the United States, law enforcement agencies from across Southeast Louisiana joined local industry safety leaders and representatives from the Port of Southeast Louisiana for a lesson in explosives awareness.
The port’s facility security officer workgroup recently partnered with local FBI special agents for classroom instruction and demonstrations regarding what to look for when dealing with explosive devices or chemical weapons.
“It’s best described as a workshop in ‘explosives 101,’” said Lester Millet III, chairman of the Port’s Facility Security Office. “We learn what to look for and what some of these explosives are capable of.”
Millet said the security workgroup meets every other month to discuss issues tied to the Maritime Transportation Safety Act, which was passed by Congress following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He said the recent awareness seminar is the second such event to be held at the Port of South Louisiana in recent years.
“The program targets any local or regional entity that has commercial dealings tied to the river, including grain elevators, chemical plants and refineries,” Millet said. “Representatives from 23 agencies and organizations from New Orleans to Baton Rouge were in attendance.”
The program included three hours of classroom activity followed by a 30-minute explosives demonstration at the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Department Range/Training Facility.
“The outdoor demonstration showed the capacity of certain elements of explosive devices and offered us a chance to gauge how wide the effects would stretch,” Millet said. “Simple everyday things found at local hardware stores and beauty supply shops can be used as weapons. Much of the information is common knowledge, but there are still a lot of things that people don’t realize.”