Tulsa World (Oklahoma)
Copyright 2006 The Tulsa World

The public's fear of a terrorism attack has waned since Sept. 11, 2001.

Tucked in the corner of a complex of Department of Public Safety offices, the one-story building could be easily missed.

But through this building flows more than $100 million in federal money and the intentions of hundreds of Oklahoma police officers, firefight-ers and other first-responders to protect the state's residents from attack.

In the office hallway hangs a framed poster with a message for Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader who directed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The picture shows an eagle staring straight ahead with a determined look. "Dear Terrorist. Sleep with one eye open. We're Coming," it says.

Oklahoma's Office of Homeland Security, created in 2002, is responsible for handling about $120 million in federal grants since 2002. The office has an annual budget of about $1 million and has 10 full-time employees.

Oklahoma Homeland Security Director Kerry Pettingill, a burly, veteran highway patrol trooper, has been in charge of the agency since 2004.

While Homeland Security employees work each day to prepare the state for a possible terrorist attack, most residents of Oklahoma seem more concerned with the price of gasoline and illegal immigration.

Pettingill said Oklahomans are too trusting.

"Oklahomans tend to be open and friendly and trusting, and that can make them a soft target," Pettingill said. "I don't want to raise undue alarm, but we must remember that there are elements out there wanting to do harm."

Pettingill is a certified bomb technician who was one of the first responders to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

"I was at the DPS complex when it occurred, and the (Murrah) area was already crowded as I tried to get in," Pettingill said.

"I was there within 18 minutes. I had to park a few blocks away and walk in, and when I turned the corner and saw the Murrah building, I was taken aback. It was difficult to comprehend. I was wondering if it was natural gas explosion or an airplane that could have caused it."

The public's fear of a terrorist attack in America has waned. Nearly five years have passed since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Yet, the first requests for homeland security funding soon after the attacks show a real concern for public safety.

Police and fire departments feared that water sources, city buildings, courthouses, airports and dams could be targets for weapons of mass destruction, according to Homeland Security grant applications.

The Sallisaw Fire Department predicted grave consequences if the town's electrical substations and wastewater treatment facilities fell under terrorist control.

"Should any one of these facilities fall into the hands of terrorists attack it would most assure create great hardship and loss of life to the citizens of this region."

In another grant application, Altus officials sought impact-resistant doors and gates at the water treatment plant. Officials also sought protective barriers around a chemical storage tank to prevent "small arms fire" from puncturing the tank and causing a "catastrophic chemical release."

Idabel Police in Southeastern Oklahoma wrote: "Due to our remote location it is doubtful a terrorist cell would target anything in this area, but they could move on roadways through this area en route to a target area and hazardous materials moves along our road system every day."