How Safe Are We?

Ever since 9/11 our airports in America and in the rest of the world have increased security to the point of scrutiny in everything that is carried on or worn on a commercial airliner. All of these increased security measures are for our protection. They have prevented such tragedies as when the plot of the bottles of liquid carrying potentially explosive materials was discovered in Great Britain as well as the attempted shoe bomber. However, while the focus has been on these increased security measures at large international and domestic airports, smaller, private airports in industrialized cities are being overlooked.

A local news team from Houston, Texas undertook its own investigation to find out just how secure these airports are. Their first stop was Hooks Airport in northwest Harris County. The unmarked news van simply drove up to the call box, asked to be let in, and was buzzed in no questions asked. Once on the other side of the barbed wire fence the news team had access to corporate jets with their doors wide open and no one in sight to ask the team any question as to why they were there. Thinking this was just a fluke they returned a few days later, again drove up to the call box and asked to be let in. This time they were asked to identify themselves and the team responded they were there to see the planes. They were again let in and again had access to the planes. However, an employee from the airport did meet them and asked what they were doing there. He identified himself as Homeland Security and escorted the news team back to the front entrance explaining he was unsure how they were let into the airport in the first place.

The next stop was Sugarland Regional Airport to the southwest of Houston. Although they do have a fence it does not go completely around the property leaving a gap for several hundred feet anyone could walk through. Once again the undercover news team walked through unlocked doors and had access to the hangars and corporate jets.

The last stop was Lone Star Executive Airport in Montgomery County about 50 miles to the north of Houston. This airport has no interior security fence although there is a sign warning to report suspicious activity. The news team was able to get on the tarmac and walk right up to a larger commercial jet.

Aviation expert and former Inspector General for the Department of Transportation, Mary Schiavo, after having viewed the news team's videos was quoted as saying "This is not acceptable." The public assumes that there is tighter security at all airports but that is not always the case with the thousands of smaller, private airports around the country.

What does this mean for a city like Houston? Houston's neighboring towns of Texas City, La Marque, Pasadena, Clute, and Freeport is home to dozens of chemical refineries. These areas are likely to be terrorist targets because of the storage tanks that house more dangerous chemicals than any other plants in the nation. Chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, hydrofluoric acid, and phosgene are stored in tanks that can hold up to millions of gallons. Chemical engineer Phil Whitman has studied more than 100 chemical tank ruptures and says "There's no doubt an executive jet could penetrate one of these tanks since they are not designed to take that kind of impact." Mary Schiavo has also stressed the fact that once an executive jet gets going there is no stopping it and that the ones found at Sugarland Regional Airport can be powered up and ready to go in minutes.

What would be the outcome if such a scenario played out? Dr, Jay Boris, chief scientist at the U.S. Naval Research center worked up such a worst case scenario for a Houston-based client using computer models and found that should a major rupture occur, especially at one of the plants in the Houston Ship Channel, the chemical release of chlorine gas, for instance, would spread out and cover most of the downtown area. Chlorine gas gets into the lungs. People can choke on it and die. "The consequence if you don't die is you may be on a respirator the rest of your life." said Boris. Further investigation by the news team found that one study done by multiple agencies estimated that up to 17,500 fatalities with another 10,000 severe injuries could result from such a chlorine gas release.

Finally, what about those three airports that were tested? Lone Star Executive Airport's director said it was the responsibility of the aircraft's owner not his about the security. Hooks Airport is a private airport and therefore not regulated so it is not in breach of any security regulations. And Sugarland Regional Airport's director said immediate steps would be taken to secure doors and other areas.

Expert Mary Schiavo hopes such actions come soon at all area airports. Large cities, especially ones like Houston, can be vulnerable when they become the next target of terrorist plans.

Sources: Jeremy Rogalski/KHOU Channel 11 News