At least they didn't appoint McCloskey! Just wait until Finkbeiner gets sworn in. He'll appoint himself to that position because, as we all know, no one 'gets better results' than Carty himself.
posted by limedrops911 at 09:20 A.M. EST on Thu Dec 29, 2005 #
Actually, in some ways it makes sense. Local resources are more likely to be used for responding to an attack. Now if the seminars are related to spotting jihadist activity, then it would make more sense to send someone from the police force. Overall though, having the fire chief as head of HS at the local level isn't out of line.
posted by Terrahawk1 at 02:19 P.M. EST on Thu Dec 29, 2005 #
Toledo Fire / Rescue and Lucas County Agencies Lead Northwest Ohio in Regional Bioterrorism Planning Efforts
Posted: 6/17/2005 9:30a.m.
Ohio is divided into 8 Homeland Security Planning Regions, with the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, Toledo/Lucas County Health Department, and Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio acting as coordinators for the 18 county NW Ohio region in bioterrorism and disaster preparedness planning. Planning partners are comprised of fire, EMS, law enforcement, Emergency Management Agencies, public health departments, hospitals, mental health, veterinarians and volunteer organizations from the counties throughout the 18-county region.
http://www.co.lucas.oh.us/HomelandSecurity/
posted by psyche777 at 03:11 P.M. EST on Thu Dec 29, 2005 #
Bell's a good administrator.
I fact, I think he would make a good mayor. Bell in 2009!
posted by historymike at 03:27 P.M. EST on Thu Dec 29, 2005 #
I was just curious. I know somebody who is head of homeland security, in their 'area', in ohio, and he has attended all homeland security conferences/training seminars, in Washington,D.C. and Columbus, Oh. and, and with, the FBI at some. He said that Toledo rarely sends somebody to attend, and if they do, it is usually in the fire capacity (he also hinted that few of them sent, rarely stick around for the seminars, and party it up, instead, but he wouldn't go into it with me, so I don't know). He said that Toledo is poorly equipped for a terrorist attack, as compared to other parts of the country, and to my surprise, he said that Toledo WAS high on the 'hit list' for that to happen, something about the electrical grids/harbors? Not sure, like I said, he was evasive, he isn't supposed to be discussing it at all, and he'd probably be upset that I mentioned it here. Homeland security has these training seminars mostly, since 911, for crisis training in case of a terrorist attack, as much as, or more than, a natural disaster. THAT is why I questioned Bell being appointed as head. I have no gripes with Bell at all, I have only great things to say about him,and do agree he'd make an excellent mayor. I just think that the person appointed as 'head' of homeland security in Toledo, should have a lot of knowledge of law enforcement, and crisis training, more than fire training.
posted by starling02 at 10:55 P.M. EST on Thu Dec 29, 2005 #
I have an honest question: What makes Toledo so valuable as a high potential target for terrorism??
posted by MrsPhoenix at 07:56 A.M. EST on Fri Dec 30, 2005 #
Refineries!!!
Besides, what made Oklahoma City a target? Terrorists (be they foreign or domestic) don't always make rational decisions.
posted by MemyselfandI at 04:47 P.M. EST on Fri Dec 30, 2005 #
I was told by a Chief of Police (one who HAS attended the Homeland Security terrorist/crisis training in Washington,D.C, and elsewhere that Toledo is fairly high up on the 'hit list' for terrorism, and has been even before 911 (I read in a news magazine years ago that Toledo was number 10 in the country). I am not clear on the reasons, but it has something to do with the electical grid (that expanses more than Toledo?), our harbors, and auto industry. Again, not sure if those are the only, or real reasons, just stating what was told to me by somebody in a position to know (he is also head of Homeland Security in his area). He would not go into specifics, and some of this info came second hand to me, by someone very close to both him and me. He is the one who said that Toledo is very poorly prepared for a serious disaster, or terrorist attack
posted by starling02 at 07:09 P.M. EST on Fri Dec 30, 2005 #
Hmmm...
I would have guessed that Toledo's expansive water distribution system, the Interstate highway and railroad routes that crisscross the region, the layout of the telecommunications pathways and fiber network routes also traversing the area might have something to do with it; along with Davis Bessie, and the Fermi nuclear plants.
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 12:20 A.M. EST on Sat Dec 31, 2005 #
One of the reasons for Toledo's high ranking of probability for a terrorist attact is its proximity to Detroit. Detroit hosts one of the largest arab communities in the US. It is a perfect place for a cell to blend into the local population. Add a nearby port, two nuclear power plants (Davis Besse and Fermi) and a major airport as targets plus the Canadian border for escape or bringing in explosives or weapons and there you have it.
posted by holland at 04:18 P.M. EST on Sat Dec 31, 2005 #
Dearborn, Michigan also has an incredibly high arab population rate, and not far from Toledo. Personally, I doubt Toledo would be hit, seems there has to be bigger and better out there to hit. But it does disturb me that Toledo is so ill prepared in the event of ANY crisis situation. For example, the jail is so out dated, poorly maintained, many survielance cameras do not work, out dated weapons, and no employees have had any crisis training (I know that to be true, sources cannot be divulged)
posted by starling02 at 08:55 P.M. EST on Sat Dec 31, 2005 #
Toledo has a fairly substantial Middle Eastern population as well, but not nearly as large as Detroit's.
I've always thought that if there terrorists were smart they would start going for cities outside the NYC area. If you wanted to stike fear into our society, send a few suicide bombers into a high school basketball gym during homecoming festivities, graduation, or prom. 9/11 was a horrific event, but outside NYC, Boston, Chicago, and LA there wasn't much visible change in people's lives....we carried on as normal because that was "way over there." But we'd all change our habits if they started hitting targets in the smaller major cities such as Toledo, Columbus, and Dayton or even in small cities such as Findlay or Lima.
I think Toledo is a high risk target just like any other city in the country. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, and if Toledo is perceived as a weak link then they would target it.
posted by HeyHey at 01:33 A.M. EST on Mon Jan 02, 2006 #
National Nitwit has breaking news of President Bush's plans to expand the spy program.
posted by Subcomandante_bob at 03:57 P.M. EST on Mon Jan 02, 2006 #
Syndicate ToledoTalk
