On the lookout for terrorists
Bitter winds end disaster drill

Milan Chief of Police Jerry Stephens tells Marilyn Whitley where she can find out more information about her children during a disaster preparedness exercise at Kearn's Park in Milan Saturday. Whitley was playing the part of an upset parent whose children were exposed to hazardous biological and chemical materials during a mock terrorist attack at the railroad spur near the park. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

An observer from the New Mexico State Police watches while Milan Police Chief Jerry Stephens and Milan firefighters use binoculars to read hazardous materials labels on train cars during a simulated terrorist attack at Kearn's Park in Milan Saturday. The disaster preparedness exercise simulated an explosion that released biological and other hazardous agents. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

MILAN — Frigid winds Saturday blowing across Kearns Park here took their toll on a major terrorist disaster drill, threatening to turn the volunteer Grants High School student simulated victims into real ones.

So drill directors ended the trial run early.

The script called for a determined individual to cause an explosion of a railroad tanker car, releasing theoretical deadly nerve gas, and threatening to set off a second bomb to fulfill his or her desire to kill people in uniform.

Initially some children would have been killed because they were playing near the tanker car which the terrorist blew up. But his or her second remote-controlled bomb wouldn't go off. The script called for the cops officers from at least four agencies were at the scene to capture the killer.

Victims were to wear tags listing their injuries from the very deadly nerve agent VX, a clear and oily liquid which shows symptoms within seconds if breathed or within minutes when absorbed through the skin. Its symptoms are similar to the industrial chemical methyl parathion.

Saturday's drill is the latest in the escalating series of training for agencies in the county.

At the county Emergency Operations Center at the Sheriff's Office east of Grants, County Emergency Management Coordinator Peggy Jordan told those called to run the response, "All the entities are so small and have such few resources that we have to work together."

Sheriff Manuel Lujan, as with the last drill, was the Operations Chief in charge of the center. Once the simulated disaster's dire scope became obvious to the on-site incident commander, Tony Boyd, the call to activate the center came within 20 minutes. Things got a little more complicated when the BNSF manifest for that train arrived, and he had to order everyone all the fire trucks, police cars and ambulances to pull back about a half-mile for safety's sake.

The on-site public information officer, Sue Loudner, said Saturday afternoon, "Everyone followed their procedures. There was some opinion we should have played this out longer. But the victims were getting cold; so it was decided to terminate it."

She added, "We consider this a good exercise because we learned some corrective actions which need to be taken. I can guarantee there will be additional exercises."

A debriefing meeting was held right afterwards, with another one for Friday at noon at the city golf course. Evaluators needed some time to write up their reports.

In addition to participants, the Jicarilla Apache Tribe and the Navajo Nation Emergency Management Commission sent observers.

Participating agencies included an extensive group from the Acoma Pueblo, the Red Cross, local ham radio operators, the state Homeland Security Department, Laguna Pueblo, the county, the railroad, both hospitals in the county although they didn't get to receive any "patients" the Cubero, Lobo Canyon and Milan Fire departments, the county jail's SWAT team, and the CCA federal prison in Milan, which had to prepare to evacuate hundreds of prisoners.

In its letter to area residents notifying them that something big would be happening Jan. 14, the Local Emergency Planning Committee wrote, "There are simple steps that Americans can take now to prepare themselves and their loved ones for a real attack; make a kit, make a plan, and get informed. By gathering supplies to meet basic needs, discussing what to do during an emergency with your family in advance, and by being aware of the risks and appropriate actions, you will be better prepared for the unexpected and ultimately you will help prepare your community and the country."

— To contact reporter Jim Maniaci, telephone 285-6184 in Grants or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).