As you may have read in last Friday’s Bossier Press-Tribune, I unveiled a new emergency operations plan known as Operation Exodus to a select group of Bossier Parish residents.  

This plan’s main goal is self-sufficiency and that goal can only be met with volunteer citizen aid. Exodus makes provisions for disasters so that Bossier Parish can stand alone without assistance if necessary. If a disaster situation were to happen nationally or locally, we want to be certain that we could take care of you, the people of Bossier, no matter what. During Hurricane Katrina, the citizens of New Orleans and the surrounding areas were left to fend for themselves until federal aid arrived. We want to make sure that in any event the people of Bossier Parish don’t have to wait on help. Whether it is a natural disaster or terrorist attack, we want to ensure that you and your family are safe.

You may be asking yourself if a terrorist attack could really happen here in Bossier. Fact is, an attack may never occur here in our parish, but we will still have enemies to fight if something catastrophic happens elsewhere in our nation. Fear and panic in uncertain times can cause people to act erratically. During the attacks of September 11th, people locally still rushed to grocery stores and gas stations to stock up, even though the attack was thousands of miles away. That’s why, from a law enforcement standpoint, it is always better to be prepared. If we prepare for the worst, then we can handle the rest.

As evidenced by recent terror threats, it is apparent that homegrown terrorists are in our midst. In fact, there is intelligence to suggest that there are local cells in Bossier that are sending people overseas for training. By taking a proactive approach, we can better prepare for any possible attack and keep you and your families safe. Within Operation Exodus, there are provisions to keep resources like gas, water, food and triage facilities open, available and safeguarded.

Operation Exodus is a plan that utilizes the strengths of our community and the people within it. There are various aspects of the plan that require trained, skilled volunteers with varied backgrounds. An asset protection team is one such example. This team will consist of 4 members: one deputy and three trained volunteers. They will be in charge of protecting those necessary resources from being looted and to prevent rioting at those locations.

Volunteers will also be needed for the coordinated citizen aid portion of the plan. These volunteers will help with shelters for displaced residents, feeding those in the shelters, and providing them with companionship and spiritual guidance, should it be needed.

If a disaster occurs and federal or state aid is available, we will be more than happy to accept it and intertwine it with Operation Exodus. But we must not rely on resources that we do not have control over. We must be able to take care of ourselves and neighbors in any event.

Barksdale Air Force Base has been a significant part of our community for many years. With the addition of the new Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale is now an even larger part of this area. This new command also brings with it a heightened sense of security. It is critical for us in the law enforcement community to complete our mission of public safety in order to assist Barksdale in completing its mission of national security. Working together we can succeed in both missions.

The name Operation Exodus was chosen for three reasons. The word “Exodus” literally means “going out” or “departure.” For the Bossier Sheriff’s Department, Operation Exodus is a “departure” from our normal duties to amplify the protection we provide our citizens. As for the volunteers, they will be “going out” of their way to help the people of the community. And the last reason it was chosen is because of its Biblical relevance. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were totally on their own, learning to be self-sufficient and handle everything alone, just as the plan provides.

We hope that every ready and willing citizen can make the commitment to help us in a time of tragedy. Volunteers will be screened and begin training soon. For now, we are planning to give them refreshers each quarter, to keep them sharp and on the ready.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that we never have to implement Operation Exodus. But if the time comes that Bossier Parish and its citizens will have to be protected from a larger nemesis, we at the Bossier Sheriff’s Department are ready, willing and able to take care of you and your family.

Larry Deen is Sheriff of Bossier Parish. He contributes monthly to the Bossier Press-Tribune.

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved