City tests terrorist attack response

Torres was coordinating the simulation, while Police Capt. Danell Adams challenged the group, asking at every juncture, "What do you do now?"

Adams was the coordinator at a recent simulation at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station just last week.

Such simulations are becoming more common as the Department of Homeland Security attempts to broaden training to handle potential domestic terrorist threats.

Adams said that the training is being geared to include all city employees, since any and all of them could be pressed into service during such an emergency.

"City employees are learning how to handle public safety matters since police and firefighters will be in the field," she said.

In a real incident, the presence of uniformed people in the Emergency Operations Center will likely be few and far between.

City employees will likely be answering the phones, not police dispatchers — and will need three days' worth of clothing and food on hand in the event of a major incident.

One hot topic of conversation was whether city employees will be required to stay on the job, and how to keep them here if their families are in jeopardy elsewhere.

The answer: Ask the hotels to open up rooms for city employees' families, so they will be relatively safe and near their loved ones.

As for others who may be unable to get home, the Red Cross was called to set up a shelter at the high school gymnasium.

When Adams noted that the city has a large supply of MREs (military-issued 3,000-calorie meals) and drinking water, some in the group said they would rather see if the city's restaurants would like to contribute their own MREs instead.