Ensley: 'If threats arise, county has emergency plan'

By Rose Hooper

"Our dams could be a target, so we have increased security on them," he said.

In a recent briefing with elected officials throughout the county, Ensley said if Thorpe Dam were destroyed, a 70-foot wall of water would plunge down the Tuckaseigee River.

"By the time it gets to Cullowhee, it would be 55-feet high, and in two hours, when it reaches Bryson City, it would be 40-feet high," Ensley said. "It could cause death to people who live along the river and any passengers who might be riding the train at the time."

Knowing these facts will allow Ensley to implement an evacuation plan to save lives.

"I can't order an evacuation; only elected officials, like chairman of the county commissioners and mayors of the towns, can do that. I can request it and implement it; I just can't order it," Ensley told those in attendance.

He did ask the mayors at the meeting to identify residents in their community who would need special attention during an evacuation, including those who are bedridden, on full-time oxygen or other support systems and who require constant medication.

Ensley's plan involves the sheriff and police departments, volunteer fire departments and rescue squads and other emergency personnel, as well as ham radio operators, within the county.

"In an attack, lack of communication could be a big problem. That's why we are ahead of the game in Jackson County because we have good communication in place," said Ensley, indicating the roll call room at the new county jail could be the centralized meeting place.

"My job is to bring in outside help if we need it, including any state and federal assistance. It would resemble a military operation," said Ensley, who has experience coordinating disaster efforts.

His first priorities are to make sure people are safe and that the infrastructure is back in place.

"For disasters, we generally have 72 hours of supplies ­ food, water, shelter, but for a terrorist attack, our plan calls for two weeks minimum supplies."

Smoky Mountain High School has been designated as an emergency relief shelter, he said, as have other schools in the county.

Ensley said his main concern is if a terrorist attack happens in a larger city, like Charlotte or Atlanta, the residents leaving there could overflow into Jackson County.

"Those people would probably think the mountains are a safe place and they could be here in a couple of hours. If it's been a chemical or bioterrorist attack and these people are contaminated, my first job is to protect the people of Jackson County," said Ensley, whose emergency plan includes that scenario.

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