PORT TOWNSEND – The chance of a large-scale explosion at the naval base across the bay from Port Townsend is small, very small, said Wayne Nagy, Naval Magazine Indian Island ordnance director, on Tuesday.
“Before that can happen, I suspect I will win the lottery twice and be hit by lightning six times,” said Nagy, who has held his position at the Navy’s most strategically important weapons base on the West Coast for 14 years.
Nagy was in charge of providing information about operations risk management as he manned one of the 12 information stations at the Navy’s Tuesday night’s public outreach program in Building 204 at Fort Worden State Park.
Other information stations focused on the island’s history, the mission of the base, depleted uranium, explosive safety, community outreach, training exercises and other subjects.
It was the first of three such Navy programs.
Between 30 and 50 people attended, cycling in and out of the room and stopping at various information stations.
The second will be at 6 tonight at the Port Ludlow Fire Station, 7650 Oak Bay Road.
At the same time Thursday, the program will be at the Jefferson County Public Library, 620 Cedar Ave. in Port Hadlock.
The programs are sponsored by the Port Townsend, Port Ludlow and Port Hadlock/Tri-Area chambers of commerce.
Tuesday, the room was humming with conversations between the experts and members of the public.
Nagy continued discussing the chance of an accident occurring on the island.
He said strict regulations are in place to prevent such things, from “thermal coating” on ordnance that allows it to withstand intense heat without detonating to well-trained personnel who handle the weapons.
Every detail has been thought through to lessen the chance of the unthinkable happening, he said.
“I don’t know what could cause a full-scale explosion that is unintended,” Nagy said.
