LEAK SHOWS VULNERABILITY OF CHEMICAL SITES

GULFPORT - If someone stealing anhydrous ammonia can inadvertently release
the potentially deadly substance, what damage could a terrorist cause?

Before daylight Sunday, while the nation was at an "orange alert," someone
walked up to a Gulfport storage tank and opened the valve, releasing a
toxic cloud.

Had someone been bent on terrorism, serious casualties, even deaths, could
have occurred. But despite the scare, no coordinated meetings between
emergency response or law enforcement agencies have been called to discuss
ways to improve security around chemical tanks or to identify other
vulnerabilities.

Harrison County officials said they will take cues from the Gulfport Police
and Fire departments once the agencies complete their investigation. When
Gulfport files an incident report with the Mississippi Emergency Management
Agency, the report will be shared with authorities in the state's other 81
counties.

"We would hope that the local law enforcement and managers would take this
lesson and learn from it and also share it with surrounding cities and
counties," said MEMA spokeswoman Amy Carruth.

The Harrison County Local Emergency Planning Committee should review the
incident, she said. However, the committee has no such plans, according to
its chairman.

"No sir, we wouldn't meet to discuss that situation. It's in the city of
Gulfport," said Harrison County Fire Services Director George Mixon, the
committee's chairman.

The committee serves as an information depository for data on hazardous
chemicals and usually meets only twice a year, he said. Any reports from
the Gulfport Fire Department would probably be shared with the committee,
he said.

"Any time anything like this happens, it raises your awareness," said
Harrison County Sheriff George Payne Jr.

Anhydrous ammonia, which is a refrigerant, can also be used in the illegal
manufacture of methamphetamine. Biloxi Police Chief Bruce Dunagan said
there have been three to four thefts at seafood plants in the past year.

There is no requirement for businesses with the outside tanks to erect
fences or install locks.