Cautious local governments open for business

Adrienne Packer and Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001 | 10:17 a.m.

Local governments are open for business today but remain on alert against potential terrorist attacks.

Visitors to Las Vegas City Hall and the County Government Center were closely monitored after Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Though the Las Vegas Valley had received no threats of terrorism as of today, the cities and county remain prepared to respond to any acts of violence, officials said.

"We need to be vigilant and realize we're living in an age of terrorism." Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams said Tuesday.

Clark County's Emergency Management Team meets monthly to discuss potential disasters. The team, which was not put into action Tuesday, includes Metro Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

"We have no reason to worry or be fearful at this point," Williams said. "But our people ... are prepared for anything."

Tourist officials and government leaders advertise the Las Vegas Strip overseas to make it a worldwide destination.

"The more prominent Las Vegas becomes as a city, the more likely it could become a target of some destructive act," County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera said. "We as a community are cognizant of that and are prepared for any type of situation."

Flags flew at half mast at government buildings in the valley.

Although city of Las Vegas offices remain open, available to the public, it isn't quite business as usual, City Manager Virginia Valentine said.

At least a dozen city marshals guarded entrances and elevators at City Hall Tuesday, questioning those people that had come to the city for business. Suspicious packages and vehicles were also checked and others were asked for their credentials.

Valentine said all of the departments at City Hall, including Detention and Enforcement, were on standby to implement if necessary an emergency operation plan, which guides the city on how to deal with disasters.

The plan sets responsibilities for each department in case of emergencies, Valentine said.

The city's employees train during the year on how their department would be needed to handle an emergency.

For instance, the Leisure Services department would use the recreation and community centers to house and feed displaced residents and the Finance department would purchase medical supplies.

Valentine, who lived in Washington, D.C., in 1971, said watching the impact of the attack was surreal.

"It's taken awhile for it all to sink in," Valentine said.

To help keep residents updated, the city has posted new information about street closures and emergency numbers on its website and television station, KCLV Cox cable Channel 2. The city is also working with Clark County to post similar notices on its website and television station to restore calm among residents.

"The most important thing for residents is to remain calm," Valentine said.

During a press conference Tuesday, a visibly shaken Mayor Oscar Goodman, who grew up in Pennsylvania, said the first thing he did when he heard the news was check on his friends and relatives who live in the area. He said his wife broke down after hearing the news.

"Acts of terrorism like this strike us all to the core," Goodman said. "I assure you that the FBI and our local enforcement agencies are taking necessary precautions to protect our citizens in Southern Nevada."

Clark County Manager Thom Reilly placed the county on "level one" alert Tuesday morning, meaning government officials were in constant communication with police agencies and city leaders. The county's primary goals were to accommodate tourists stranded by canceled flights and to keep abreast of any Las Vegas ties to the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

Commissioners Erin Kenny, Bruce Woodbury, Yvonne Atkinson Gates and Herrera and Williams joined Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt at a press conference Tuesday at the Las Vegas FBI office.

"The county is on level one response where we'll be monitoring information to determine if there is a threat to the people of Clark County," Herrera said. "At this point, there is no information that leads us to believe that people here need to fear for their safety."

City Hall in North Las Vegas also remained open Tuesday, although city officials said they regularly monitored water reservoirs, pump stations and wells to ensure they were not damaged by vandals.

Spokeswoman Brenda Johnson said the city's emergency operations center was not activated Tuesday.

"If things take a turn for the worse, we're ready to go to the next level," Johnson said.

Henderson and Boulder City officials said Tuesday they inventoried resources and organized safety personnel. Boulder City established an emergency communication center. Henderson was communicating with Clark County in case officials decided to set up a general information center.

"We looked at everything we could think of," Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro said. "People should be able to rest a little easier."

By the end of Tuesday, government officials lauded their ability to work together to comfort residents and take care of passengers forced to stay in Las Vegas after McCarran International Airport was closed.

"I think this was handled extremely well," Williams said. "Life went on here."

Jeffrey Libby and Mathis Winkler contributed to this story