(The following story by Matthew LeBlanc appeared on the Hawk Eye website on December 18.)
FORT MADISON, Iowa — Federal officials will study the probable effects of a terrorist attack on the Santa Fe Bridge next month, according to Lee County Emergency Management officials.
Steve Cirinna, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the Homeland Security Department, Transportation Security Administration, Lee County, Fort Madison and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad officials will be presented with scenarios related to an attack on the bridge in Newport, R.I., the last week of January.
The bridge, which carries thousands of tons of rail freight each day as well as hundreds of motor vehicles, was put on 24?hour watch in March after it was deemed one of 250 “critical assets” by the Homeland Security Department.
Cirinna and Fort Madison City Manager Bill Kelly will travel to New England next month as “trusted agents” charged with informing the government about the bridge’s proximity to the city and the layout of the city itself.
Details about the three?day meeting at the Naval War College are few. Kelly said the first scenario involves a terrorist attack occurring while an Amtrak passenger train is on the tracks.
Cirinna said federal officials have not yet decided which scenarios will be discussed, but said, “We’re going to know what’s going on, but we’re not supposed to tell.”
It is unclear what role BNSF officials will play in the drill, described as “more of a thinking exercise” by Cirinna.
The drill will feature “table?top” exercises designed to survey damage and the possible effects of a terrorist attack on the bridge, according to Cirinna and Kelly. They said they were unsure what kind of terrorist attacks would be discussed.
Local police and fire departments will not be involved in the drill, according to Kelly.
All cost for the trip will be picked up by the government, Cirinna and Kelly said.