INCREASED THREAT LEVEL, PROSPECT OF WAR TRIGGERS HEIGHTENED LOCAL SECURITY
In the wake of the increased threat level and the imminent war with Iraq, Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced some of the heightened security steps undertaken by the City of Harrisburg.
- The City’s state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center has been readied and able to function at a moment’s notice, and activated on an around the clock basis, providing risk assessment, interagency communications and operations implementation
- The City Government Center at 10 N. Second Street, and the McCormick Public Services Center at 123 Walnut Street are now accessible only through the guarded front doors of each building, and all persons and packages entering the buildings are subject to search, including vendors. All city employees must also wear their identification badges for access.
- The Pennsylvania Task Force One, administered by the city and which was the first team dispatched to the World Trade Center on 9/11, has been made operationally-ready.
- The City’s water and sewer plants and the DeHart Dam, have been closed to public access and visitation; only those trucks or persons having business at the plants will be allowed in following inspection.
- Certain high risk sites have additional security assigned.
- Decontamination equipment and supplies have been made ready for use, if needed.
- Police officers have been instructed to have their issued gas masks with them while on duty.
- Incoming packages and mail to City Government Center are now subject to increased inspection and review prior to distribution to agencies and staff.
- Certain monitoring, surveillance and patrol activities are occurring.
- Harrisburg maintains a continuous operational liaison with the Harrisburg FBI Office, with an officer assigned to them full-time to assist in counterterrorism work.
- A review of upcoming events at hotels and other city-based sites is being made to identify any that would require security upgrades.
- Persons in the city who observe suspicious activity or have possible information are invited to call city police at 255.3131.
Many aspects of the city’s security operations are classified and unable to be publicly divulged, said Mayor Reed, who also noted that there have been no specific threats against the city or facilities located here.
Reed urged residents to stay tuned to local media for important information and updates about the pending military actions in the Persian Gulf.
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