SOUTHLAND VIGILANT AS CONFLICT LOOMS.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

As the drums of war grew louder Tuesday, Los Angeles drew a security blanket around its airports, schools, hospitals, amusement parks, movie studios and even the Lakers to protect against a potential terrorist attack.

State and local police called on every available officer to patrol centers for business, education, transportation and entertainment in the face of the nationwide Condition Orange high alert and the imminent attack on Iraq.

Gov. Gray Davis doubled California Highway Patrol patrols around potential targets, and Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn activated the city's 24-hour Emergency Operations Center - at 10 percent of full staff - with the county expected to follow suit.

``The state of security is very good in Los Angeles,'' Hahn said at a morning news conference in Van Nuys. ``We've worked very hard in the last year and a half to do everything we can to make Los Angeles safe.''

Hahn reiterated there have been no credible threats against targets in Los Angeles, which has spent $100 million on security measures since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Later in the day, the mayor urged residents to avoid ``hate talk'' and to treat others of various religious backgrounds fairly.

``I know a lot of people are in a state of heightened anxiety, a lot of people are worried,'' he said, ``but there is no excuse to treat anyone like a scapegoat.''

The heightened security follows Monday's ultimatum from President George W. Bush that gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq or face a U.S.-led attack. They quickly rejected the demand, heightening concern that war would increase the possibility of terrorism at home.

The CHP went on 12-hour shifts and doubled patrols around the state's major airports, bridges, power grid and aqueducts. Twenty-nine CHP helicopters also began 24-hour aerial surveillance.

``Every man, woman and dog in the CHP family is willing to protect this state and the people in it,'' spokesman Tom Marshall said.

George Vinson, head of the state Office of Homeland Security, said state officials have increased surveillance of the food and water supply, and are monitoring for signs of biological or chemical terrorism.

In Los Angeles, police went on a modified tactical alert while raising the threat level to a 4 out of a possible 5.

Police commanders were also ordered to implement a Single Purpose Terrorism Response Plan, which increases patrols around 500 potential targets, including movie and TV studios, high-rises, airports and seaports.

Random vehicle checks were being conducted at Los Angeles International Airport and other airports, and security was beefed up at Universal, Sony and other studios.

After a contentious debate about the effect on the city budget, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday passed an emergency measure to spend $4.4 million for protective suits and gas masks for police and firefighters.

The 14-1 vote came after an hourlong debate, in which some council members questioned whether the city could afford the suits now and whether the purchase would result in cuts to other city services, such as fighting gangs and trimming trees.

``This is the basic equipment you want a first responder to have so a first responder will feel comfortable running into a situation of unknown peril - a situation which these days could lead to gruesome, extraordinarily horrible consequences,'' said Councilman Jack Weiss, who sponsored the motion.

Los Angeles schools girded for an attack by stockpiling food and water, going over extensive security plans, beefing up police patrols and increasing bus monitoring.

The district drafted letters to parents of its 748,000 students, urging them to keep their children in school.

``Our whole philosophy is to prepare for the unexpected,'' said Willie Crittendon, administrator for school operations and safety for the Los Angeles Unified School District. ``Los Angeles is at the forefront in planning for any natural or man-made disaster.''

The letter from the school district will advise parents on safety procedures, emergency services, and the role parents can play in advising children to attend school, heed authority and avoid bullying students of different religious backgrounds.

``We want parents to reassure their children that they want them to be in school every day and to place safety first,'' said Marleen Wong, director of crisis counseling and intervention.

Glendale and Burbank school districts plan to send letters to parents this week, assuring the community that schools are the safest places for their children.

``Each school has an emergency preparedness plan, with first aid, water and other supplies on hand,'' said Glendale School District Superintendent Jim Brown. ``Staff members are well trained.''

A disaster preparedness drill, which was scheduled for Burbank schools last year, will be held Thursday.

The Glendale City Council on Tuesday considered spending $300,000 a year to hire Nagy Protection Services Inc. to guard its Water & Power Utility Operations Center.

Los Angeles-area hospitals were put on high alert and those near Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony were told to be ready in the event of a terrorist attack, according to Carol Gunter, acting director of the county Emergency Medical Services Agency.

Awards officials also announced that the 75th Academy Awards show would go on - minus some glitz.

``We all understand that the country is on the brink of war, and may be sending American men and women into harm's way almost as we speak,'' said Gil Cates, producer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar Awards ceremony.

``We must prepare for the show to be produced under those circumstances.''

That means producers are now preparing a more sober pre-Oscars show and a shortened red-carpet arrival of the industry's top talent.

Guests will exit their limos in front of the Kodak Theatre, instead of promenading before numerous paparazzi and spectators. Some celebrities even asked to slip through a back entrance to avoid looking frivolous while soldiers fought overseas.

No celebrities, including presenter Susan Sarandon, an outspoken opponent of war, have been coached on not giving political commentary during the ceremony, Cates said.

The NBA announced Tuesday that it is reviewing its security measures to ensure the safety of all fans and players, including the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite the threat of a war with Iraq, officials running the NCAA's men's and women's basketball tournaments - which will begin Thursday - said Tuesday that there would be no changes in the starting times of the games, no postponement of games, and no stoppage of any events, even if war broke out while the games were being played.

Two women's basketball teams from Southern California, including Pepperdine University, are scheduled for games this weekend.

Elsewhere in the region, the U.S. Coast Guard continued heightened patrols around the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, while the skies above San Onofre and the nearby Camp Pendleton Marine Base remained a no-fly zone.

Most aircraft were banned from flying directly over Disneyland, California Adventure and Disney theme parks in Florida under security restrictions implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration.

A five-day trip to a music festival by more than 120 members of the award-winning Calabasas High School Band and Choir was canceled because of security concerns.

``Regretfully, the world events unfolding before us and the anticipated military action in Iraq force us to cancel tomorrow's planned departure of the Calabasas High music program to the New York festival,'' Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent of the Los Virgenes Unified School District, wrote in a letter distributed to students and parents.

--EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEB SITE: Residents who want information about Los Angeles' emergency preparedness can contact the city's newest Web site: www.updatela.com

--TERROR HOTLINE: Residents who see suspicious activity that might relate to terrorism are urged to call Los Angeles police at (877) ATHREAT.

Operations Center, set up Tuesday in preparation for war status.

Staff Writers Lisa Sodders, Susan Abram, Mariel Garza, James Nash, Jill Painter and Harrison Sheppard, along with City News Service, contributed to this report.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) There'll be no red-carpet parade before Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony out of deference to both local security and U.S. troops.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

(2) Mayor James Hahn talks with officials in the city's Emergency Operations Center, set up Tuesday in preparation for war status.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

no caption (EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEB SITE, TERROR HOTLINE)