Orange threat level raises awareness

WASILLA -- Monday's increase of the statewide security alert level by Gov. Frank Murkowski has repercussions for residents of the Valley, according to Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller and Dennis Brodigan, acting director of emergency services for the region. Valley residents are encouraged to remain on alert and have workable disaster plans in case of emergency.

Brodigan and the Department of Emergency Services participated in a conference call with the state's Homeland Security Department, which does not believe that Alaska is at any particular risk from terrorist or insurgent attack.

"Of course, there are targets of opportunity, specifically the pipeline and the ports," Brodigan said. "But there's no real direct threat anywhere in Alaska. Although there's a generic threat nationwide, there's nothing specifically at risk in our state."

Brodigan did, however, assert that this relative safety should not be taken as an excuse for lassitude among Valley residents. "We encourage people to be ever vigilant and aware," he said. "Anything that comes across as not 'business as usual' should be taken note of."

Major Mike Haller of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management supported this statement: "There's no specific risk to the Valley, but if any Valley residents notice anything [while traveling elsewhere] out of the ordinary, they should not hesitate to report it to the authorities." Haller emphasized, however, that residents should not be afraid to travel out of state and visit their relatives as they normally would.

The threat level was recently raised by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to reflect the increased levels of travel and increased volume of passengers being transported by major airlines and greater amount of cargo being moved by shipping companies. The increased threat level is expected to continue during the holiday season, with new airport security measures being adopted early in 2004.

Authorities seem to agree that the mere fact that an Alaska winter is in full force should be an object of greater concern to residents of the Valley, and encourage general disaster awareness for natural phenomena as well as potential terrorism. "If residents are prepared for just one emergency, they're pretty much covered for all different kinds," Keller said Tuesday. Keller also said Alaska residents in general and Valley residents in particular have an advantage over United States citizens elsewhere, since people in Alaska must constantly be prepared for earthquakes, blizzards, volcanic eruptions and other unexpected acts of nature.

Despite this general versatility, Keller, who is a member of the Local Emergency Planning Commission, emphasized that "everyone needs to have a disaster plan and a communication plan" in the event of a serious emergency. Brodigan agreed, encouraging Valley residents to remember that, regardless of nationwide threat levels, winter in Alaska is always a hazardous time. Brodigan stressed that residents should always keep a source of heat that does not produce toxic carbon monoxide on hand. For the first 72 hours of any large emergency, citizens are expected to be able to fend for themselves, so additional stores of food and water are a wise precaution, as are emergency kit standbys such as a flashlight, battery-operated radio, and plenty of blankets.