Security Steps Taken Against Terrorist Acts : War nerves: Bomb threats to public buildings in Santa Ana add to tension. Protection of nuclear generating plant, water supplies, airport and military bases stepped up.

Wartime security measures took hold in Orange County on Thursday as public utilities, military installations, John Wayne Airport and other government agencies moved aggressively to protect against potential acts of terrorism triggered by war in the Persian Gulf.

Two bomb threats directed at public buildings in Santa Ana added to the tense situation Thursday, officials said. The federal building in Santa Ana’s Civic Center was evacuated for two hours in one of those instances. Both threats were false alarms.

Southern California’s water supplies were one object of tightened security.

“We met with the FBI, and they certainly confirmed our belief that water facilities are an important target for terrorism,” said Carl Boronkay, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which imports much of the region’s water. “We’re adding people, working them on all shifts, and increasing our patrols.”

The big water supplier also has stepped up aerial patrols over its 242-mile aqueduct that brings water from the Colorado River to Southern California, Boronkay added.

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, south of San Clemente, also reported increased security. Armed security patrols were on “heightened alert,” said Keith Sheldon, a spokesman for Southern California Edison, which operates the plant.

At John Wayne Airport, passenger traffic remained about normal Thursday, officials said. But those passengers found some new warnings and restrictions. Inside the terminal, newly posted pink and blue warning signs read: “Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, only ticketed passengers will be allowed past screening points.”

The airport’s loudspeaker repeatedly broadcast this additional warning: “Attention in the terminal. Do not leave any bags, luggage or other items unattended.”

In the airport’s parking areas, scores of parked cars were cordoned off by yellow police tape and warning notices placed on windshields advised the motorists to call a special number for assistance in getting the cars moved. Airport officials said the Federal Aviation Administration had ordered that no cars be parked close to the terminal.

“When people move their cars from the cordoned-off area, no more cars will be allowed to park there,” said Courtney Wiercioch, the airport’s chief of special projects.

All three of the airport’s parking facilities remain open, but the FAA’s restriction now eliminates 1,200 of the total 8,400 parking spaces. The apparent reason for the FAA’s order against parking in slots close to the terminal is fear that some autos may be loaded with explosives. Airport officials, however, could neither confirm nor deny this.

Wiercioch said, “I don’t try to second-guess the federal government on why they tell us to do what they tell us to do.”

Jim Morrison, a security agent checking passengers and hand luggage inside the airport, said everything was moving smoothly despite intensified safety measures. “People don’t seem to mind,” he said. “Actually they say they’re glad we’re doing this.”

The armed forces confirmed that intense security is now in place at military installations in Orange County.

Marine bases at Tustin and El Toro and the Navy’s weapons station at Seal Beach all had tougher restrictions for entering those facilities. The Coast Guard, which operates two patrol boats in Orange County, also said that it had intensified security but could not discuss specifics.

Capt. Betsy Sweatt of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station said military police armed with M-16 rifles, shotguns and bomb sniffing dogs conducted increased patrols inside and outside that base.

“There is a 100% identification check,” she said, noting that the checks and searches resulted in long traffic backups Thursday morning at gates leading into the station. Normally, the base allows cars with current military identification to go through the gate checkpoints without stopping. Now all vehicle drivers must stop and produce identification, regardless of having proper stickers on their autos, officials said. In addition, officials said, searches are being made of some vehicles.

The U.S. Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach remained on a heightened state of alert Thursday, as did military installations across the nation, said Tom Thomas, chief spokesman for the base. The alert, called “threat condition bravo” in military parlance, was ordered at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thomas said.

Thomas said people entering the base were required to show identification and some cars were being searched. “I can’t discuss specifics of our security measures,” Thomas said, adding, “I’ve got strict guidance, as you can tell.” Thomas said base policy is not to discuss threats. “We have not had any incidents . . . ,” he said. “Beyond that I can’t tell you much.”

Civilian transportation also drew increased security. Paul Askelson, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) structures maintenance engineer for Southern California, said inspection crews are on the lookout for possible sabotage of bridges and overpasses, as well as highways. An Amtrak spokeswoman in Washington said increased security for the railroad is in effect in Orange County as well as elsewhere in the nation, but she said no details could be released.

At the Santa Ana Civic Center, a telephoned bomb threat to the Federal Building in the Santa Ana Civic Center forced the evacuation of about 900 Internal Revenue Service and other government workers for about two hours. Some evacuated federal workers blamed anti-war protesters who were demonstrating outside the building at the time of the evacuation.

“I feel like it’s a threat against the American government,” said Sharon Aussear, an employee with the Defense Department, as she waited outside the Federal Building. She said she did not object to people exercising their right to protest, “but we don’t have to threaten each other to do it.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad conducted a sweep of the nine-story building and found no explosive device.

In addition to the Federal Building scare, a bomb threat also was telephoned Thursday morning to the Orange County Courthouse. No evacuation resulted. County marshals made a quick search of the courthouse and ruled out any danger, said Capt. Don Spears of the Orange County marshal’s office. Officials speculated that the threat may have been related to a court case rather than the Middle East tensions.

Fausto L. Reyes, manager of the emergency management division of the Orange County Fire Department, said county officials met earlier this week to discuss security, and heads of each county agency were told to “dust off” existing emergency plans and review security procedures. No special countywide action was planned, he said.

Governmental agencies throughout the county, including the county marshals, beefed up security, officials reported.

“All of our people have a heightened awareness to the potential of terrorist activities,” said Spears of the marshal’s office.

Times staff writers Sonni Efron, George Frank, Mark Landsbaum and Jim Newton contributed to this story.Related GRAPHIC: B3

Security Measures Public utilities, military installations and John Wayne Airport all reported heightened securitymeasures as Orange County braced for potential terrorist reaction to the outbreak of war in the 1348825715 Government Buildings Bomb threats forced the evacuation of the Federal Building in Santa Ana and triggered a searchof part of the Orange County Courthouse on Thursday. Officials tightened security, but declinedto elaborate on the specific measures being taken. John Wayne Airport About 1,200 of the airport’s 8,400 parking spaces near the new passenger terminal were cordoned off under orders of the Federal Aviation Administration. Notices stated the closure was because 1868963874 Military Bases Security patrols were increased, and military police were armed with M-16 rifles and shotguns. 1. Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Officials checked identification more closely and searched some cars. They declined to be morespecific. 2. El Toro/ Tustin air stations All military and civilian vehicles entering the going on base must carry identification. Vehicles without military identification are being searched. 3.Coast Guard The service, which operates two patrol boats in Orange County, declined to discuss security measures. ELSEWHERE San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Armed security patrols were on heightened alert. Water Supply The Metropolitan Water District, which imports much of Southern California’s water, is increasing aerial and foot patrols over the 242-mile aqueduct that brings water from the Colorado Riverto Southern California.