USCG puts Semper Paratus to test at training event

By David Ball
The Port Arthur News

BEAUMONT July 17, 2008 01:45 pm

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— Petty Officer Patrick Kelley, US Coast Guard on Wednesday's events

BEAUMONT — What would happen if terrorists were to attack one of our Southeast Texas ports? Or if they attacked one of our refineries? Pipeline? A tank farm?
Emergency responders do not have the luxury of dealing with the theoretical. Consequently, the United States Coast Guard put their Semper Paratus motto - Always Ready - to the test with other local agencies as they participated in the Sabine-Neches Emergency Coordination and Response Exercise this week in Beaumont.
The simulated training was in response to a multi-mode terrorist attack. The command center was headquartered at Ford Park.
Bob Stegall is the security specialist for the USCG Marine Safety Unit in Port Arthur and director of the event. He said this event has been in the planning for the last three to four years between federal, state and local agencies working together.
“We’ve had a great response from the three county judges (Jefferson, Orange and Hardin Counties) and emergency response coordinators,” Stegall said. “We’ve had over 600 city and county responders trained in incident command.”
The exercise was designed for a regulated response, to pool resources and to pool responses. Part of the pooling of resources is a statewide program where first responders can continue performing their jobs while other emergency personnel gather and look at resources to assist them.
“There are different targets readily available in the area and some vulnerabilities, but we can respond on sea and on land,” Stegall said. “We feel this is a prime target area. We train to respond and hone our abilities and capabilities and learn some lessons so we can improve.”
Some of the lessons learned at the terrorist training were gleaned from dealing with Hurricane Rita. Stegall said every third month, cities conduct emergency response team training that involves entire city staffs including city managers and city attorneys.
“They’re enthusiastic about it. They’ve seen what happened from Rita and they don’t want it to happen again,” he said.
Another component of the training is developing a common terminology and common paperwork of documentation and ordering supplies. Also, cross-training throughout the state enables responders to be called up and relieve others in emergency situations.
Stegall further said port facilities have been spot-checked up and down the Gulf Coast and the Coast Guard was “very pleased with the results and ready to go.”
The USCG has also been assisted with technological advances to utilize for security along with the awarding of port security grants for equipment such as boats, helicopters, etc.
John Owens is deputy chief of the Port Arthur Police Department and the emergency management coordinator for the city. He said regional responders responded to simultaneous events during the terrorist simulations at multiple locations in the area such as the Montage Center at Lamar University and the port of Beaumont.
The exercises worked on response, communication and recovery.
Stephen L. Curran, fire chief of Port Neches and emergency management coordinator for the city, said the multiple events ranged from Beaumont to Sabine Pass for practicing response capabilities, command and control and whatever else needed to be done.
“It’s been a friendly encounter and an efficient response. I don’t think any agencies have worked better together in the entire state of Texas,” Curran said.

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