Laughlin hosts terrorism drill

Jace Radke

Thursday, April 1, 2004 | 10:23 a.m.

Emergency officials in Clark County and Mohave County, Ariz., teamed up today for a drill simulating a terrorist attack in Laughlin.

The drill, scheduled to last throughout the day, will be conducted via phones and e-mail between officials in both counties, Clark County spokeswoman Samantha Charles said.

The scenario calls for a van carrying a radioactive "dirty bomb" to be involved in a traffic accident in Laughlin, forcing emergency responders to deal with the threat. According to the script, the terrorists detonate the bomb in Laughlin after the accident.

Clark County Emergency Manager Jim O'Brien said that these multi-agency training exercises are becoming more common.

In August, local, state and federal officials participated in "Operation Determined Progress" in Las Vegas and Logandale. More than 1,200 people took part in the exercises in Nevada, while 500 military personnel monitored the event from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., home of Northern Command, the nation's domestic terrorism watchdog.

That exercise included a simulated bioterrorism threat. It was designed to test the responsiveness of each level of government to a major terror attack.

"Clark County plays a leading role when emergencies happen, particularly when they rise to the level of a statewide or national crisis," O'Brien said. "Since the events of September 11 we have continued to facilitate various exercises, with a stronger emphasis on terrorism and hazardous materials."