A Krispy Kreme doughnut store near Des Moines, Iowa, is listed on the state’s “critical assets” list of locations in Iowa which need protection from terrorist attack.

The list, intended for use by police and emergency workers to determine the state’s most “vulnerable or crowded” locations, had been pared down from 11,600 locations to 1,360 locations after consultation with security experts, researchers and business leaders in the state, the Des Moines Register reported.

By law, the public can view the list, but only after receiving approval from the state’s Homeland Security department. No one can make copies, however, and those who view the list are prohibited from disclosing items on the list without prior permission.

Register reporter Bert Dalmer viewed the list, memorized 22 locations from the updated list, and was given permission to disclose 20 of them. One of them is the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store at 1880 N.W. 86th Street in Clive, Iowa.

In addition, many county officials across the state have not seen the updated list of locations, and some have seen neither list, prompting questions about how well those officials can protect the locations from attack.

“Food-borne illnesses, whether they’re naturally introduced or terrorist-introduced, are of a concern,” state homeland security chief David Miller told the Register. “It is a method of attack that the terrorists have at least given some thought to.”

Some observers said it is futile and wasteful to try to protect every facility that makes a doughnut or raises a steer.

“If this thing were attacked, would the state shut down, or would a large portion of it shut down? That should be the standard,” said Ron Bee of the University of California-San Diego’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.

Bee said 1,360 critical assets “is way too high” for Iowa.

“If you have more than 50, 100 max, you’re kidding yourself,” he said. — Des Moines Register

Maybe it’s because police and emergency workers in Des Moines desperately need a safe location to get doughnuts in case of a terrorist attack or other critical emergency.