May 20, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Department Reacts to Heightened Terrorist Alert

Terror Alert to Orange/High for the US automatically puts public safety organizations on standby . . .

For the second time this year, the Shreveport Fire Department has enacted their High Risk for Terrorist Attack policy following an upgrade by the Department of Homeland Security Terrorist Threat Level to High (Orange). A High Condition (Orange) is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous threat conditions, the fire department and other public service agencies consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific protective measures that have been develop and implement:

Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations;
Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;
Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce;
Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

For public safety reasons, these measures are general, as specific and detailed
actions taken by the Shreveport Fire Department will not be elaborated on. The fire
department is being particularly cautious following reports from other fire department’s,
including Washington D.C., that individuals have visited fire stations at strange hours
and have asked questions about firefighter schedules and some gear has been
reported missing. ###