Nevada officials step up security

Jace Radke

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.

After Tomahawk missile strikes in Baghdad opened the war to disarm Iraq, emergency officials in Las Vegas said this morning they are ready for possible retaliatory terrorist attacks here.

Jerry Bussell, Gov. Kenny Guinn's homeland security adviser, was briefed by the state's law enforcement agencies early today.

"Everyone reporting is ready to go, but there is no evidence of a threat at this point," Bussell said. "We're executing what we need to get done, and we're ready if we're needed."

The opening assault on Baghdad brought some additional security measures in the state, including the FBI staffing its Joint Terrorism Task Force Command Center, which will remain open 24 hours a day.

"When the attack started we brought in a handful of staff to run the command center overnight, and it was fully staffed this morning," Special Agent Daron Borst, spokesman for the FBI office in Las Vegas said. "We've been prepared for this.

"We have measures in place if there are any retaliatory strikes against U.S. interests, and we are also cognizant of any retaliation against any people of Middle Eastern descent."

Bussell said he spoke late Wednesday to Homeland Defense Secretary Tom Ridge who recommended the state remain at orange alert -- the second highest alert status -- unless there was a "defined threat."

"The secretary told me that he sees no reason to go to red unless their is a clear and defined threat, and even then it will probably only go red in that city or area where the threat would be," Bussell said. "I know of no defined threats against any city in the U.S. or Nevada."

Officials said with no specific threat, life should continue on as normal for Southern Nevadans.

Still government agencies prepared.

The county's Emergency Operations Center, at the Clark County Government Center, is prepared to open if needed, county officials said. If the center were to open phone lines would be set up for the public to call, so that officials could dispel rumors and have direct contact with citizens, Metro Police Sgt. Rick Barela said.

Barela has been manning the Clark County joint information center, which opened Tuesday, and said that everything has been quiet since the war began.

"There is no information of a specific threat to Las Vegas," Barela said from his post at the Clark County Government Center this morning. "We haven't had much to report, but that's a good thing. We're prepared, but we're hoping that we end up not needing it."

Casinos and other major tourist destinations, including Hoover Dam, remained open Thursday, but hotel security guards were checking vehicles, especially trunks.

Bureau of Reclamation officials have increased surveillance of the waterways approaching Hoover Dam, and those driving over the dam can expect their cars to be searched.

Cars, including limousines and taxis, are also being searched at McCarran International Airport, airport spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said.

At Nellis Air Force base security remains at Bravo level, two levels below the highest security level of Delta.

Guinn said it was time to turn the state's thoughts to those about to enter battle.

"I firmly support the course of action that President Bush has chosen to take," Guinn said in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with the armed forces and their families."

The Associated Press

contributed to this story.