Terror Alert Increased to HIGH – Are You Prepared?

Terror Alert Increased to HIGH – Are You Prepared?

Bruce Mandelblit
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003

On the Sunday before Christmas, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge made a powerful public statement that the federal government had decided to raise our nation's terror alert level from elevated (yellow) to high (orange).

Secretary Ridge stated, "The strategic indicators, including al-Qaeda's continued desire to carry out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any point since September 11, 2001."

Ridge went on, "The information we have indicates that extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe will either rival or exceed the attacks that occurred in New York, in the Pentagon, in the fields of Pennsylvania nearly two years ago."

These potent statements by Secretary Ridge lead to the logical question: How can the average family prepare for a possible terrorist attack?

The National Crime Prevention Council, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice, has put together a superb booklet with some very basic steps to help most Americans prepare for a possible act of terrorism or other natural and man-made disasters, such as hurricanes or major power outages.

Here are some of the simple tips offered in "United for a Stronger America: Citizens' Preparedness Guide":

1. Make a list of important numbers. Write down important local numbers such as the non-emergency numbers for the police department, fire department and FBI field office. Keep this information by the phone and make copies for yourself and your family to keep in their wallets.

2. Write down phone numbers and contact information for your family. Keep one copy by the phone and provide others to family and friends.

3. Make a neighborhood directory and plan. Include emergency contact information and plans for children and seniors who may be home alone during emergency situations. Identify neighbors who need additional help, such as young children, seniors and those with disabilities, and develop a plan to assist them in an emergency.

4. Make your house easy to find. Make sure your street address number is large and well lighted so that emergency personnel can find your home quickly.

5. Organize an emergency preparedness kit. Your kit should contain, at the minimum, the following supplies:

A three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
Food that will not spoil and requires no cooking
A first-aid kit and needed medicines (consult your physician and pharmacist about storing medications and keep copies of your prescriptions)
Emergency tools like a battery-powered radio, cell phones, flashlight and extra batteries
Personal items like toilet paper and plastic garbage bags
A portable emergency generator if possible
A Quick Security Tip: Check batteries, change the stored water and rotate the food supplies every six months.

For further details about what to include in emergency supply kits and how to learn about CPR and first-aid training in your neighborhood, contact the America Red Cross at www.redcross.org (1-866-GET-INFO) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.fema.gov (1-800-480-2520).

Also be sure to log on to the Department of Homeland Security�s Web site [www.ready.gov] for a multitude of preparedness data.

My Final Thoughts: This is just the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to disaster preparedness; however, setting up a proper emergency plan and supply kit are good places to start.

To get your own copy of "United for a Stronger America: Citizens' Preparedness Guide" at no charge, just log on to www.weprevent.org or call 1-800-WE-PREVENT.

I like to think of what I call the "three Ps" when it comes to terrorism and other types of disasters:

Don't PANIC.
Keep things in PERSPECTIVE.
Be PREPARED.

Planning for an unexpected catastrophe, including potential acts of terrorism, takes, of course, some effort. But by using common sense and implementing the appropriate steps as suggested by our local, state and federal emergency authorities, we can work together to prepare and help protect our families and communities.

I will end this column with some additional comments made by Secretary Ridge when raising our national terror alert level to high:

"America is a country that will not be bent by terror. America is a country that will not be broken by fear. And instead, America is a country blessed with citizens marked by good will and great resolve. We will show the terrorists both during this holiday season: good will toward our fellow men and readiness and resolve to protect our families and our freedoms."

(Note: If you manufacture or distribute any Security, Safety, Emergency Preparedness or Crime Prevention related products, please send information on your product line for possible future reference in this column to: Bruce Mandelblit.)

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"Staying Safe" with Bruce Mandelblit is a regular column for the readers of NewsMax.com and NewsMax.com Magazine

Bruce welcomes your thoughts. E-mail Bruce.

Bruce is a nationally known security journalist, as well as a recently retired, highly decorated reserve Law Enforcement Officer.

Bruce writes "Staying Safe," a weekly syndicated column covering the topics of security, safety and crime prevention.

Bruce was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel � the state's highest honor � by Gov. Paul E. Patton for his public service.

This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

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