Pasadena (TX) Put On Terrorist Threat Alert

These plants could become huge bombs. But plant security is very high these days. Always was high, but now is extremely high.

Re: your post #46

Looks like we've been looking at and connecting similar dots. The scenario you described is a pretty ugly picture.....and quite possible.

It's 6 p.m. CDT and Pasadena is still on the map. I, for one, am quite relieved and I know everyone who lives there is much more so. This had to be a very unnerving day.

No apology necessary for not seeing my post immediately. Thanks for giving me a heads-up on your post. I'll make a couple of comments, but I'll need to be careful because I work in this industry and don't want to give too much away.

First, I don't believe that it would be necessary for the terrorists to rehearse in any particular refinery. No amount of rehearsal will get them past any security that is set up at the time of the explosion. Either they'll make the first check point or they won't. If they make it, people will assume that they are rescue workers and will direct them anywhere that they say that they need to go. If security tries to stop them, they'll just shoot their way through and set off their explosives near any target of convenience.

They probably would be more effective if they had refinery experience, but they could get that experience easily back at home in the Middle East. Much of the refinery equipment looks the same all over the world. If they are told to detonate an ambulance full of explosives under the cat cracker, they don't need to practice. They just need to drive up, light the fuse, and run.

In terms of a walk-thru, they might have done their walk-thru years ago. All refineries must bring in hundreds of contractors to work turnarounds. These people do all sorts of jobs and could find themselves anywhere in the refinery. A couple of guys with previous experience in a refinery would have little trouble being hired by a contracting company. They could go about their business and learn a great deal about the refinery without doing anything unusual. They could probably walk through a few scenarios without appearing to have done anything unusual. Just to allay suspicion, they may have even changed their names to something that sounded American.

Another point of weakness may be the rail lines that go into and out of every refinery. If they had access to one of those trucks that drives on the rails, they might be able to drive into a refinery with little warning. If they conceal themselves in a specially-made car, that would be another route, but getting that car into a train going into the refinery might be difficult. They might also just walk up the rail beds, but this plan would limit what they could bring into the refinery. I know that many facilities are aware of this weakness and are taking quiet steps to secure this point of access.

If I remember correctly, Mohammed Atta drove to Maine to start his trip because he believed that security would be more relaxed at the airport there. He would pass through security there and be inside security when he arrived in Boston.

WFTR
Bill

Well,we didn't get hit today and I also have been certified as boilermaker technician.Three of us took that test,the other two failed.All is good in the Republic of Texas.

ALL RIGHT!
Congratulations.. hope this translates into more $$$ for you..
Folks used to ask me "how do you stand the smell in the plant?"
I'd tell 'em "it smells like money."

For live freeway cameras go to:
http://traffic.tamu.edu/cameras/camtext.asp
Look for the cameras on SH-225, South Ritchie for one of the refineries.