so tired of hearing about increased security & potential attacks

Sassy, my feelings exactly. I always had a 'be prepared' attitude. Even before Sept. 11, but especially in the days that followed. I keep extra water on hand and rotate it since thankfully we haven't had an emergency. My pantry is stocked with canned goods and other make do items. I make sure our batteries are fresh and can locate matches easily. Have tons of blankets in case we lose heat. I now carry a flashlight in my bag for the subway. I can go on. None of these things would likely save my life, if we are in fact attacked by such horrible ways as they describe, but it makes me feel better to know I am trying.

Dh and I discussed the other day how we would try to connect in the event of an emergency, if possible. If there's trouble in mid-town, I'll try to get to him downtown. and vice versa. He walked to me from the the WTC on 9/11.

And I will continue to listen to all the hype. I will filter out what I think is unnecessary banter, and just be precautious. I can't forget the clueless feeling I had when coming up from the subway after the planes hit, walking to my office in a bubble, getting in and having 10 messages on the voicemail - none really saying what happened - just frantic people wondering if I was ok each getting more desperate.

If our very expensive national 'intelligence' is getting a bad vibe, I want to know about it. Even if it scares my pants off.

I am hoping that my reply does not scare anyone but as stated above, better to be prepared than not...

I just received this via e-mail....


Survival planning starts at home
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY

The Department of Homeland Security has urged Americans to prepare for a
terrorist attack that could involve biological, chemical or radiological
weapons. With the nation's terrorism-threat level at code orange - or 'high'
risk for an attack - officials said people should take steps to protect
themselves and their families.
Some key questions raised by the latest alert:
Q: Why was the threat level increased on Friday?
A: Law enforcement officials cited intelligence reports that al-Qaeda might
be planning to attack 'lightly secured targets' such as apartment buildings
or hotels. Officials also warned of an attack with a 'dirty bomb,' which
spreads radioactive material, or with a chemical or biological agent. They
said an attack could be timed to coincide with the hajj, the annual Muslim
pilgrimage to Mecca. The five-day hajj period started Saturday.
Q: What has the government done to respond?
A: The government has stepped up security at airports, bridges, tunnels,
dams, ports and border crossings. Homeland Security officials contacted 66
of the nation's top CEOs on Friday and urged them to increase security at
their companies' buildings. Hospitals and health officials have been told to
have plans in place to respond to a biological attack. State and local
officials have put more police on the streets and increased security at
utilities and other vulnerable targets, but many say they don't have enough
money to add much security.
Q: What should people do to prepare?
A: Families should choose two meeting places, one near home and one outside
the neighborhood, in case members can't reach one another during a disaster.
They also should choose a contact person who lives out of state who can
relay messages if local phone networks are jammed or out of service. And
they should prepare disaster kits for their home and cars.
Q: What's the most important item in a disaster kit?
A: A battery-powered radio (with extra batteries) so you can listen to
instructions from authorities.
Q: What else should be in a kit?
A: At least three days' worth of water (one gallon per person per day),
canned and other non-perishable food, over-the-counter medicine and regular
prescription medicines. Flashlights. A non-electric can opener. Diapers and
baby food. A wrench, if needed, to shut off utilities. Copies of important
documents, such as wills, deeds, bank account numbers, insurance papers and
immunization records in a fire- and waterproof container. Duct tape and
plastic sheeting.
Q: What are the duct tape and plastic sheeting for?
A: If authorities tell you to stay in your home during a chemical or
biological attack, seek shelter in an internal room or basement and turn off
all ventilation, including heating and air-conditioning units. Use the
plastic and tape to seal off doors and windows. This will help prevent
lethal agents from seeping into your home.
Q: If there has been an attack, should I try to leave town or stay home?
A: Follow any evacuation instructions from authorities. In an attack
involving biological, chemical or radiological weapons, however, it
generally would be safer to stay home. Authorities say trying to flee might
only expose you to dangerous agents or leave you caught in traffic.
Q: What if I've been directly exposed?
A: Seek immediate medical help. If none is available, try to decontaminate
yourself by removing all clothing (with scissors, if possible, to avoid
contact with eyes and mouth), gently washing your face and hands and
blotting other contaminated areas. Don't scrape or rub affected skin.
Q: What should I do in a radiological attack?
A: Seek shelter below ground and stay there until told otherwise. If you're
caught outside, lie on the ground and cover your head.
Q: Is the government telling only residents in New York City and Washington,
D.C., to prepare for attack?
A: New York and Washington are particular targets for al-Qaeda, but
officials are telling all citizens to prepare.
Q: What will happen to my children at school?
A: Many schools are locked down during emergencies to keep children inside
until it is safe for them to be picked up. Parents should learn about
disaster plans at their children's schools.
Q: Why did it take 17 months after Sept. 11, 2001, to urge people to prepare
for another attack?
A: Information about disaster preparedness was available on the Internet and
in government offices well before the Sept. 11 attacks. But most people
haven't read it. Officials decided that the latest terrorism alert warranted
asking the news media to pass on the message that people should prepare.
Q: Are U.S. officials worried about causing panic?
A: Yes, and they say that they do not mean to scare people with the
warnings. They say they just want people to learn how to survive an attack.
Q: Won't firefighters and police officers help me in an emergency?
A: The USA has only one firefighter for every 280 people and one police
officer for every 385 people. That means that in an emergency, most people
'are going to be on their own for possibly 48 to 72 hours,' says David
Paulison of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A: FEMA has a 100-plus-page manual, Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen
Preparedness. It is available at www.fema.gov/areyouready/. The American Red
Cross (www.redcross.org) and state and county governments also have
disaster-preparedness information

Thanks Sage, I think its important to know these things.

BTW, doesn't anyone else remember having drills in school? When I was in Kindergarten we had to get under the desks during a drill in case someone dropped a bomb on us.

We took precautions then, we should now.

Sage, thank you for posting that article from USA. I have been slightly out of touch with the news this past day or so and learned about the announcement this morning in a meeting. I was unable to find anything as comprehensive as your posting at other news web sites...and I appreciate the information.

I hate the hype too...but I also filter out the hype from the valuable information.

Here is the direct web link to the FEMA manual. You will need Acrobat Reader

FEMA - Are you ready?

I'm glad everyone found it useful...I am printing out the manual from FEMA.....

I get so scared.....

I even stopped taking the path trains and subways (I take the ferry now) to get home......

All I am saying is if there are little things that you can do that give you peace of mind for a little bit (ie...taking the ferry) why not do them....

For me, reading that e-mail put alot of my questions to rest and gave me somewhere to go to get comprehensive information....

I just printed the manual. I am going to read it now!!!

Thanks ladies!

I'm too young for the WWII drills, but my mom tells me about them - and she remembered what a scary way that was to grow up! (yes, it was a precaution, but wouldn't it have been better to not have to live like that at all?)

My thoughts are that you should definitely be prepared - better be safe than sorry. I forget who mentioned the flashlight on the subway, but that's a great idea for everyday, regardless of the reason.

I just feel that if, God forbid, something else were to happen, duct tape won't do much to save me or my family. Aside from having food, water and flashlights on hand, as well as a coordinated plan to contact friends and family, there's not much else to do to avoid anything, which is a terrible feeling

Teri, it was 1975-76.

I am SICK SICK SICK OF IT.

I don't care what any of them say. If someone wants to blow us up, a roll of duct tape and a bottle of water ain't gonna save my life! I wish they would just report the news and STOP with the sensationalism! I've turned it off, and I'm done stressing over it.

I also HATE the coworker I have that loves to send e-mail after e-mail WARNING us of things to come, and sending us every breaking news e-mail there is. She watches CNN in her office ALL DAY LONG and has her volume all the way up so we can hear it. I blast my radio in return!

here's nuts, 9/11 and my parents are in FL in the airport because they had a 10am flight home. Thank god they were visiting friends and went back to there friends house. Couldnt get a flight home for 4 days. They wound up driving halfway home and then were able to catch 2 up and down flights.

Talk about nuts. My dad became physically sick because he knew i had to go to the financial center to get keys. What he didnt know is that i was running late. He called my answering machine at work and said 'this is your mom and parents, call us' talk about nuts...

Now no matter where i go, i make sure to tell my parents and FI and if there is a phone number where i can be reached and I always have my beeper on me.

What I want to know is how can I prepare anything when I spend 8 hours in an office and 3 hours riding the subway. I can't stand all this talk. I know its a reality but I was just starting to feel safe agian and now I have to worry everytime I get on the subway or go out for lunch. All I want to do is just get married go on my honeymoon and spend the rest of my life with my FH.

I really don't listen to the news when it comes to this b/c honestly this has been going on for a very long time. War isn't just taking place in the Middle East but also in South America and Spain where my family is from. And I mean war between guerilla warfares that noone hears about unless the US is involved in some way. There is also war going on everyday in Argentina, Venezuela, and Columbia between Ecuador. War going on in Spain between the Basque community that we don't hear about. I have been to some of these countries during their time of utmost turmoil and I am not scared. I refuse to be scared. Nearly 3/4 of our family is in South America and I am more scared for them than I am for me and my family here. Although we were affected by 9/11 so tragically, our defense system is one of the top defense agencies in the world. And I trust their capabilites to take over and control the situation in the Middle East as well as provide the citizens of the US safety.
I am not writing this to say what is going on here is nothing. But rather fear should not take over what you do in your lives. Our country was based off a strong foundation that has a great defense system and government. Many countries do not unfortunately. And everyday people from all over the world fight and may even die to step on to this land. I hear it all the time.

you ladies are giving me the willies! I am SO sick of all this! I'm just ignoring all these warnings and living my life. If somethings going to happen to me, then it will. I will be careful though, I'm not stupid. This will not stop me from going into the city, going to games, etc. This is what the terrorists want us to feel. They are in the business of scaring the crap out of us. Yes, they have done a great deal of damage, but I'll be dammed if they get to me!

Hugs to all of you!
Lora

CW and Charlie...WELL SAID!!