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TEXANS TALK HOMELAND SECURITY

Since the terror attacks of 9/11, protecting and defending our homeland has been priority number one for our government. One could hardly escape the images of destruction in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania as they replayed again and again for days on television sets worldwide. The media saturation forced many parents to talk to their children about terrorists and the evil that exists in the world. Since that time we have become a more vigilant society, aware of the potential for terrorism, even with chemical or biological weapons. We are aggressively working to protect against and respond to disasters with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose.

Your response to the following question provided interesting insight into Texans' state of preparedness. "The threat of biological, nuclear or chemical weapons is a concern Americans must consider. The Department of Homeland Security has issued guidelines and life-saving tips to deal with potential attacks, but many people remain uninformed of what to do in case of an attack. In what ways have you prepared for an incident?"

Thirty percent of respondents had discussed potential attacks with their family and prepared them to react to a threat. More than half of all surveyed acknowledged that they look for unusual behavior in public places, and 10 percent of your workplaces have established emergency evacuation procedures. Still there were a number of Texans who checked "yes" when asked if they were unprepared and did not know how to respond to a threat. Below are some of your thoughts:

There were many who expressed concern that they were unaware of the guidelines or any plans their community had in place in the event of a chemical, biological or nuclear threat. In response to these questions, I've devoted the remainder of this column to helpful resources on how to prepare your workplace, your family and yourself for a potential terrorist attack or emergency situation.

Ready.gov

Under the recently formed Department of Homeland Security, the federal government has created simple, easy-to-follow procedures for all Americans. At www.ready.gov, Texans can link to a variety of helpful state and local resources. They've posted the following basic guidelines:

1. Make a kit of emergency supplies
2. Make a plan for what you will do in an emergency
3. Be informed about what might happen

At the website, you can find descriptions of how best to follow these suggestions and sit down with your loved ones to create a plan of action for your family.

Citizen Corps

In addition to being prepared on an individual level, many Americans, like those of you who responded to this survey, have wondered what more they can do to protect their communities from terrorist attacks and to prepare for unforeseen emergency situations. Citizen Corps, which was created in response to this desire to participate, brings homeland security efforts to the local level through public education and outreach, training, and volunteer service. Citizen Corps programs build on efforts of established community safety and emergency preparedness programs like Neighborhood Watch, which has worked successfully for more than 30 years, and enables ordinary people to play an active role in promoting the safety of their neighborhoods and towns. More information about Citizen Corps is available at www.citizencorps.gov.

An active and involved citizenry has been the hallmark of America's democracy. Now more than ever it is important to exercise your freedoms and your voice, to safeguard your community and the ones you love. Together, we can continue making our nation more secure.

December 19, 2003