Ten Hour Evacuation Points Out Field-Testing Weaknesses

When Fort Wayne International Airport (IN) was evacuated for ten hours last week, airport officials say they came to the conclusion that field tests for potentially dangerous chemicals is, well, lacking.

The terminal was evacuated after a baggage handler became violently ill while unloading the luggage of a passenger who wasn't even on board the flight. Seven other people needed medical treatment.

The scare prompted calls from the White House.

"That adds a lot of pressure, not only to the decision-makers, but to the support staff as well," Fort Wayne Homeland Security Director Bernie Beier told local reporters.

The mystery liquid turned out to be rose water, used in making perfume. The passenger, whose flight was delayed for several hours, was cleared. But Beier and others at Fort Wayne say the incident proved the need for better chemical detection and deterrent.

"Technology is a friend and an enemy to us," said Beier. "If we're going to have this continued threat of terrorism ... then we're going to have to develop some kind of capability, even if it is just an intermediate step."

There's only one laboratory in Indiana cleared by the Centers for Disease Control for chemical and biohazard testing. It's in Indianapolis.

The problem is an acute one for cities like Fort Wayne and states like Indiana, where much of the financial burden for homeland security improvements has been borne locally. A new state-of-the-art lab capable of quickly testing for chemical and biological hazards could cost upwards of $30 million.

In a two-hour post-mortem on the entire incident, airport and emergency officials took in the good and the bad. For instance, at some point during the day, cell phones began to wear out from heavy usage. That sent workers on a hunt for either chargers or replacement phones. There was also some confusion as to who was giving out what information to the local media and whether that information was timely and accurate.

They're learning lessons in Fort Wayne. As the terror threat continues to haunt American airports and airlines, it's a lesson all of us will eventually have to learn as well.

FMI: www.fwairport.com