RED ALERT

I was just wondering what would happen if one day while the park were open the alert level would raise to red alert?

People would ride rides, eat food, have some fun. . .and probably walk around, talk to friends, use cell phones, get hot because the sun is shining. . .wait in line, get excited for coasters. . . that would be my guess.

But you do raise an interesting point. . .schools and such are making "red alert plans. . ." It is possible that CP would do the same, just to be safe and keep the guests informed if necessary.
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Oh my. . .NBC's Must See TV Thursday was absolutely amazing. . . I am speechless!
*** This post was edited by LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 3/18/2003 8:24:23 PM ***

The park would have to be very careful not to do anything that would cause guests to panic. As well, it would have to keep the safety and security for its employees who live on property in mind -- especially those from other nations who may be frightened by the situation. (I have been a resident assistant for the past three years, and September 11 was an especially challenging day for me since all the international students were terrified and unable to call home to their families because the phone card system was temporarily shut down).

I am sure that if we do go to war there would be some sort of plan created; obviously the park attracts a lot of people, but I'm not sure it would be as much of a target as a chemical plant or another of our largest cities. What type of plan it would be or how it would be activated is hard for me to guess. I have faith that law enforcement and the park's management would work closely together to create a plan that would be as safe and satisfactory in the situation as it could possibly be.

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~Lee~

Group Sales ATL '01
Group Sales TL '02
Park Admissions Supervisor '03
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"The greatest leaders don't take credit for their actions; they don't have to."

If they ever brought the level up that high, it would be because they had very specific info, and the park would most certainly be in the loop.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

I'd just enjoy my day because I know the CPPD can handle anything.

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Enjoy your ride on the big bad bug

I would be scared just a little because of the fact how close cedar point to a nuclear power plant.

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Merchandise here I come.

Wicked Twister rides: 50
Millenium Force rides: 52
Raptor rides: 26

It would seem to me that a park, while having a lot of people in the gates for one day, wouldn't make the best of terrorist targets. The people are just to spread out to make any sort of major damage.

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gener said:
It would seem to me that a park, while having a lot of people in the gates for one day, wouldn't make the best of terrorist targets. The people are just to spread out to make any sort of major damage.

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People are not spread out in line for a ride are they? In reality an amusement park would be a perfect target. People trying to forget the real world for a few hours, then BAM! Hysteria, panic, confusion, plain and simple, terror.
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tambo

I would think if terrorists were going to attack an amusement park, they'd more likely pick a one that is more well known world wide. Not that CP isn't well known, but it's not nearly as well known as a Disney park might be.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

My wife and I have already decided not to visit Disney for the next couple of months. I agree that it would be an enviable target. I think I will be avoiding the baseball stadiums too.

Tourism/recreation is going to take another hit that it really doesn't need. The good news for the northern parks is that the major thrust of the war should be winding down by the beginning of the season, or at least by the peak summer months.

It's a long way off, but we just made plans for a Disneyland trip for next year's spring break, last week of February. I doubt we'll change those plans unless something quite drastic happens. My daughter will be five, and that's just about peak time to see the Mouse House. :)

The federal government has ordered "no-fly zones" over Disney World and DisneyLand as of this morning news casts.

Before you start yelling "They need to do this for CP also" remember. The desired outcome of terrorism is to induce terror. To do this you choose high profile targets. Disney is known world wide. Cedar Point is not.

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services 2002-2003
Fright Zone Screamster 2002-2003

This is an instersting question. Just last year, the military and police depts. did an excersise at CP about a possible terrorist attack from the water.

The scenerio went something like this: Terrorists have taken over a freighter, and are planning on running it aground on the beach. It was loaded with some type of explosive, maybe a dirty bomb. It was a crowded day at the park, so crowd control would be a major issue.

This type of stuff is obviously planned for, and I'm sure CP management has worked closely with the CP Police and other authorities to make it as secure as possible. A lot of security stuff must go on behind the scenes that the guests don't know about.

I've thought that CP's location on a penninsula would be somewhat helpful in protecting against a land attack. I think the real danger, if there is any danger, would be from small boats. The freighter idea made a nice excersise, but it would be easier for terrorists to pack a small boat with explosives and place it somewhere.

I really wouldn't worry about it too much. Enjoy the park just like you always did. If you see anything suspicious, no matter where you are, report it to the police. That's one small thing we can all do to help keep our country safe.
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Florida may have Disneyworld and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!
*** This post was edited by Pete 3/19/2003 10:16:43 AM ***

Terror is not about hitting high profile targets, look at Isreal. Is an ice cream parlor or an outdoor mall a "high profile" target? No. If you want to instill fear into a population you hit the segments that feel the safest. If the terrorists started hitting smaller towns then everyone would worry because it just doesn't happen in New York or Washington.

Sure, high profile targets gets the largest amount of press but little "hit & run" operations would truly instill fear among the populous.

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tambo
*** This post was edited by tambo 3/19/2003 12:23:29 PM ***

An argument could be made that terrorism's goals in Isreal and the US are different. In Isreal, the goal is to convince the Isrealis that they will never be 'safe' in the occupied territories (or in the settlements outside the occupied territories) and therefore should just vacate them. One of the goals in US terrorism may well be different; to plant seeds of doubt with *other* countries concerning the States' invincibility.

The targets you pick in either case are different.

I concur with Brian. You don't really hear of suicide bombers running rampant around the US, while it happens all the time over in Israel. In the US it would still be a big deal if something like that happened, but the terroritst rings that plotted against us on Sept. 11th were well organized, financed, and had a mission. Suicide bombers' mission is to take out as many people as possible at one time. It's very rare for there to be multiple suicide bombers to attack in the same vacinity at the same time.

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What is most anticipated event of 2003? the debut of Dragster, the release of Metallica's new album, the release of Terminator 3, or the release of Matrix:Reloaded...tough call.

I believe Cedar Point will be well prepared for these kind of attacks.

But, look at it this way, instead of thinking about the terrior of bombs think about the terrior of falling 205, 310, and even 420 feet on a train and reach record speeds. I think that's the best terrior of all.

Cedar Point is a place to get away from the news and the things going on in the Middle East not a place to feel like a target.

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New For 2003 Top Thrill Dragster Tallest Coaster Ever!!
*** This post was edited by ThePoint 3/19/2003 7:00:10 PM ***

Israel is a security state. If you want to commit a terrorist act, walking into a public place and blowing yourself up is about the only way you can get away with it.

The United States is a more open society. Here you don't have to blow yourself up to terrorize the population, and you don't have to take out a bunch of people at once. All you need is a decent rifle and a few well-chosen targets.....

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who is still not a terrorist. :)

I don't know Dave you looked kind of shady the last time I saw you. ;)

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What is most anticipated event of 2003? the debut of Dragster, the release of Metallica's new album, the release of Terminator 3, or the release of Matrix:Reloaded...tough call.

CP_bound, let me just say that when I saw his file photo I was very glad to hear that they caught this guy. I have more hair than he does (and he doesn't have the beard anymore) but you can't tell that in the one shot... :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(See my profile photo for comparison purposes...)