Sandra Chapman/13 Investigates
Indianapolis - A Homeland Security list shows over 8,500 potential terror targets in Indiana. The federal government took thousands of other Indiana sites off the list, but some very questionable locations still remain, including an Amish popcorn factory.
In Newport, barrels of deadly VX nerve agent await destruction. In Indianapolis, Eli Lilly, the RCA Dome and a few high-rise office buildings stand out. But it's Berne, Indiana that has the national Security officials popping mad when it comes to sites identified as potential terrorist targets. Right alongside chemical weapons, pharmaceutical manufacturers and arenas is the Amish Country Popcorn Company, a small popcorn distributor in Berne with five employees.
"It doesn't represent true targets," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
According to a Homeland Security Inspector General's report, Indiana has more than 8,500 listed sites.
"We look at all hazards and look at the assets that we've got if one of those events would happen also, not just strictly terrorism," said Pam Bright, Indiana Homeland Security.
The state's 2004 submission, pulled together in just two weeks, is confidential. But according to the report, Indiana listed more than 5,400 public health sites and 41 tall building sites. That's more than Illinois, where Chicago boast of some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world.
Indiana Homeland Security officials say the state initially submitted more than 10,000 sites and the government rejected roughly 2,000 of them. But not the Amish Popcorn Company. How could that be something that a terrorist would attack?
"It's an asset to a local community. If it's a small community and that restaurant is their only restaurant in that little town or community, that could be the only resource they have as maybe a food distribution center to local people who have no electricity," said Bright.
Bright denies Indiana sacrificed credibility to increase the state's numbers for funding. "This document was not the sole source of our funding," she said.
Indiana was awarded $21 million in May, a decrease from the $36 million it received last year. New York also saw a decrease in funding while Indiana, Wisconsin and New York ranked as the top three on the critical assets list. New Hampshire was dead last with just 77 sites reported.
The inspector general wants a review and says the next time states should get better guidance.
Brian Lehman, the owner of Amish Country Popcorn, was interviewed on CNN Thursday morning. He was asked what he thought about making the list. "I'm glad we're living in a country that we're still safe. I'm glad they're trying to do their job. I'm surprised that they pick a company like mine. I appreciate what they're doing," he said.
Lehman was asked if he's ever seen any suspicious people near his popcorn plant. Lehman said no, but added that he always notices people driving along the gravel road near his factory.
Progress in Developing the National Asset Database - How the terror target list is created
List of states' terror targets
1 Indiana 8,591 (15th largest population)
2 Wisconsin 7,146 (20th largest population)
3 New York 5,687 (3rd largest population)
4 Virginia 4,231 (12 largest population)
5 Texas 3,804 (2nd largest population)
6 Washington 3,650 (14 largest population)
7 Nebraska 3,457 (39th largest population)
8 California 3,212 ( the largest population)
9 Pennsylvania 2,873 (6th largest population)
10 Illinois 2,059 (5th largest population)
11 Florida 2,014 (4th largest population)
12 Ohio 1,887 (7th largest population)
13 Maryland 1,692 (19th largest population)
14 Georgia 1,514 (9th largest population)
15 Michigan 1,467 (8th largest population)
Last on the list New Hampshire with 77 (42nd in population)
See the complete list
(Source - Dept. of Homeland Security)
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