If you are from Missouri you know that a major vacation/tourist attraction is Lake of the Ozarks. It’s a large man-made lake in the middle of the state. Bagnal Dam is a major power source for central Missouri. It is also the major mechanism for flood control in mid Missouri.
LakeNewsOnline: The Camden County Sheriff’s Office has verified that it received a tip regarding a group of Middle Eastern men asking about Bagnell Dam and have forwarded the report to the FBI and a joint task force on terrorism. That does not mean that there is any reason to be scared or panicked that an attack is planned at the Lake of the Ozarks, CCSD Cpl. Scott Hines said, advising though that people should always be aware and alert as they go about their business.
Ameren Missouri:Ameren Missouri’s Osage Energy Center uses the natural energy of falling water to generate electricity. Since it produces no air emissions and no solid waste, it is an important source of clean, renewable energy. And because it uses no fuel – except the water flowing through the dam – the energy center’s operating costs are well below those of nuclear or fossil fuel plants
Hydroelectric power is also important to the reliability of the Ameren system because, unlike the company’s nuclear and fossil fuel plants, hydro plants can be started in seconds – providing needed power in case of a system emergency. On a routine basis, hydro plants play a key role in helping meet peak electrical demands.
Besides their benefits to the Ameren electrical system, Bagnell Dam and the Osage Energy Center play a role in flood control, while providing water recreation for millions of visitors and local residents each year and other environmental benefits.
Knowing this, think about how this could be prime target for a terrorists, and with the recent news of questionable/possible terrorist activity, (Cell phones/Propane Tanks/Illegal Gun Buys). And guess what! It is. In fact, Bagnal Dam is very close to the vicinity in which some of the cell phones were bought.
According to Hines, a Camden County deputy was out to lunch in the area last week when a staff member of the restaurant relayed an incident that occurred there a few days to a week prior that they thought was kind of weird. A group of Middle Eastern men were apparently asking about the dam and boat tours of the dam. The reporting person thought it was kind of odd, said Hines, but didn’t call to report it at the time, only mentioning it to the deputy when he happened to be at the restaurant.
When a deputy receives a tip like that, the department has a set way to handle it, notifying several groups. They have talked to the FBI, said Hines, and the intelligence has been reported to the joint terrorism task force for Missouri hosted out of the US Attorney’s Office of Missouri and through the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Highway Patrol, which has a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. The task force is a conglomeration of multiple law enforcement agencies that collects and analyzes intelligence, such as the recent prepaid cell phone purchases around the state as well as other tips and reports.
The sheriff’s office is not conducting an investigation, and things are business as for the local agency. They are not running any extra deputies or patrols, said Hines.
Again, the message from authorities is “Nothing to see here; move along.” No one is issuing alerts or informing the public about the depth of investigations or if investigations are even taking place.
The reports do not necessarily mean an attack is planned. Bagnell Dam is a legitimate attraction of interest for visitors, and the Lake of the Ozarks sees tourists from around the country and the world.
It is typical for police to see a spike in these types of reports when there is a mass shooting especially those believed to be linked to Islamic extremism, said Hines, referencing the San Bernardino, Calif. shooting.
It’s alright to report minor incidents that may just strike you as slightly off somehow and may not end up being anything, said Hines.
“We prefer to get a few calls than not be called and God forbid something does happen. If you do see or hear something that seems odd, call and let us know.”
In light of all the activity taking place in Missouri in as recent as the last week, maybe, just maybe a more serious approach to checking out the source of these alerts is warranted.
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