Port Security Applied Policy Project - Belfer Center for Science and ...

Executive Summary
The Los Angeles/ Long Beach port complex is the nation’s busiest seaport. If terrorists
were to attack the port complex, then the economic damage would be catastrophic. In the
short term, it is impossible to prevent an attack at the port complex. Consequently,
effective first response planning is of paramount importance. The United States Coast
Guard has formed a multi-agency Port Security Committee to organize local and state
officials to develop emergency response plans for attacks on the port complex. Their
endeavor is complicated by the fact that many local agencies from the City of Los
Angeles, the City of Long Beach and Los Angeles County share jurisdiction over the port
complex.
This report recommends measures for these local governments and agencies to improve
their terrorism response plans at the port complex. By conducting over six-dozen
interviews with elected officials, agency leaders, private stakeholders, and first
responders, our research team identified three broad policy problems that may hinder
efficient and effective emergency response at the port complex:
1) Oversight and Coordination: Local political decision makers do not
sufficiently oversee emergency response planning and key stakeholders are
absent from the planning process.
2) Inaccessibility of the Port Complex: Poor vehicle access may prevent first
responders from reaching the facility and assisting victims.
3) Incompatible Communication Systems: Differences in radio technologies
prevent agencies from communicating during a response and from
coordinating emergency response efforts.
This report recommends that policymakers take the following measures to resolve these
policy problems:
Problem 1: Oversight and Coordination
¸ Political Oversight: Specific local elected leaders should create an informal
multi-jurisdictional political oversight “Group of Five” for port security. This
group should include one representative from each local political entity that has
jurisdiction over the port complex: Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, Los Angeles
City Councilmember Janice Hahn, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill, Long Beach
City Councilmember Dan Baker, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.
This “Group of Five” would meet on a regular schedule with the Captain of the Port,
who would brief them, answer their questions, listen to their collective input, and
communicate their feedback to the PSC and its planning group.
Allen, Clampitt, Hipp, and Jacobson v