Houston Considered Top Terrorism Target
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:55 pm
HOUSTON, 5:51 p.m. CDT April 9, 2003 - Houston will receive an $8.7 million grant from the Homeland Security Department to safeguard against terrorism, News2Houston reported Wednesday.
Houston is on a list of seven major cities in the United States considered vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
Federal officials would not say why Houston is considered a target. But they did say that Houston has not received a specific threat from a terrorist group.
City officials said that Houston could be a possible target because of its refineries, port, and medical center.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, police patrols have been increased at Houston's airports, public buildings and the city's water treatment facility.
"The objective is to prevent anything from happening to begin with. Second, to be sure, if something happens, we're prepared to address it and protect the people in our city," Houston Mayor Lee Brown said.
Brown said that the grant would be used for additional training and to purchase new safety equipment. He will also consult with the fire and police departments to see what more can be done.
"We've done what the Secretary of Homeland Security indicated to prepare ourselves probably better than any other city in America," Brown said.
The mayor said that Houston is spending $150,000 a week on additional security so the grant will help offset those costs.
Many Houstonians told News2Houston that they were not surprised that Houston is a top target.
"Well, you see a lot of unusual things happening. People are very vulnerable in this day and time," an unidentified Houstonian said.
"I think there's not too much we can do on something that much out of our control at this point. Just pray that it doesn't happen to us," another Houstonian said.
The other cities that will receive federal money from the Homeland Security Department include New York ($25 million), Washington ($18.2 million), Los Angeles ($12.5 million), Seattle ($11.3 million), Chicago( $11 million) and San Francisco ($8.7 million).
Houston is on a list of seven major cities in the United States considered vulnerable to a terrorist attack.
Federal officials would not say why Houston is considered a target. But they did say that Houston has not received a specific threat from a terrorist group.
City officials said that Houston could be a possible target because of its refineries, port, and medical center.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, police patrols have been increased at Houston's airports, public buildings and the city's water treatment facility.
"The objective is to prevent anything from happening to begin with. Second, to be sure, if something happens, we're prepared to address it and protect the people in our city," Houston Mayor Lee Brown said.
Brown said that the grant would be used for additional training and to purchase new safety equipment. He will also consult with the fire and police departments to see what more can be done.
"We've done what the Secretary of Homeland Security indicated to prepare ourselves probably better than any other city in America," Brown said.
The mayor said that Houston is spending $150,000 a week on additional security so the grant will help offset those costs.
Many Houstonians told News2Houston that they were not surprised that Houston is a top target.
"Well, you see a lot of unusual things happening. People are very vulnerable in this day and time," an unidentified Houstonian said.
"I think there's not too much we can do on something that much out of our control at this point. Just pray that it doesn't happen to us," another Houstonian said.
The other cities that will receive federal money from the Homeland Security Department include New York ($25 million), Washington ($18.2 million), Los Angeles ($12.5 million), Seattle ($11.3 million), Chicago( $11 million) and San Francisco ($8.7 million).
