Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen has unveiled a new emergency operations plan that will be a continuation of public safety in Bossier Parish should disaster ever strike here at home.
The plan, known as Operation Exodus, will provide for self-sufficiency in the event of a manmade or natural disaster or a terrorist attack. Exodus will take local volunteers, train them and use them in response to a catastrophic disaster in the area. These volunteers will work in conjunction with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office to secure and protect viable resources in such an event.
Exodus makes provisions for disasters so that Bossier Parish can be self-sufficient if necessary. “If an event were to happen nationally or locally, we want to make sure that we could take care of the people of Bossier, no matter what,” said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen. “Being prepared is the key.” Within Exodus, local resources such as food, water, oil, gas, and medical facilities will be protected by teams consisting of highly-trained volunteers and BSO deputies. The plan also has use for church facilities and people with all sorts of backgrounds and talents.
As evidenced by recent terror threats, it is apparent that homegrown terrorists are in our midst. With the easy accessibility of the internet, it is quite possible that these local and international terrorists can form a national or multiple location attack on our nation at any given moment. And no matter whether we are a direct target or not, fear and panic will still permeate our community. Control will have to be regained to ensure the safety of our residents. That is where Operation Exodus comes into play. It utilizes preventive measures to safeguard Bossier Parish from the fear and outcry that will inevitably transpire.
If federal or state aid is available, we will easily be able to intertwine the two for the benefit of our citizens. But if a national disaster were to take place, aid will most likely go to the places hardest hit, leaving us without those resources. “We feel if we prepare for the worst, we’ll definitely be able to handle the rest,” said Deen. “As with Hurricane Katrina, resources were stretched to the limit, and as a result, the citizens suffered. We want to make sure that never happens here.”
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 their 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 Office, 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,” said Deen. “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.”