As of April 8, the U.S. Homeland Security Advisory System’s current threat level regarding the risk of terrorist acts remains high at the orange level, indicating high risk of terrorist acts, where it has been at a standstill since March 17, two days prior to the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In order to prepare for terrorist acts against our nation, Americans are provided with the Guide to Citizen Preparedness by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, this Internet-accessible document contains information on natural, man-made, and technological hazards even before there is mention of protection against terrorist activity making this source difficult to sift through. “We live in a different world than we did before Sept. 11. We are more aware of our vulnerabilities, more appreciative of our freedoms and more understanding that we have a personal responsibility for the safety of our families, our neighbors, and our nation,” wrote Joe M. Allbaugh, Director of the FEMA, in a note to Americans accessing the guide on the Web. In light of this responsibility that we have as Americans, you can never be too prepared. Although there is currently no imminent risk of terrorist activity on American soil, here are some important pointers extracted from the Guide to Citizen Preparedness that will help you to prepare for the unexpected.

Developing a plan

The first step, according to the guide, is to develop a household disaster plan in preparation for any emergency. Plan how your household would stay in contact if you were separated. Develop two meeting places: one near your home and one away from your neighborhood in the event that you cannot return to your home. Also, consider assembling a disaster supply kit consisting of water, food, and other necessities to last you at least three days. According to the guide, the average person needs two quarts of water for drinking purposes. Reserve at least one gallon of water per person per day for cooking and sanitary purposes. In addition, gather supplies to shelter you home for confinement lasting up to two weeks by purchasing plastic sheeting and duct tape (if you can find any in stores near you). Don’t forget scissors as well as flashlights and extra batteries. Consider compiling extra prescription medications, nonprescriptive drugs, hygiene items, and household documents also. Grab a battery-operated radio while you’re at it.

What is “chemical” or “biological” warfare?

If you have been following news coverage of the war, or even pre-war coverage, you might have heard newscasters reporting on the concern for chemical or biological warfare. Again, there is no current threat that these agents will be used. Yet it’s important to understand what these terms entail. According to the guide, “chemical warfare agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants” while “biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, livestock, and crops.” Biological agents consist of three groups: bacteria, viruses, and toxins.

What should you do during a chemical or biological attack?

First, listen to your local radio station for instructions for authorities on whether it is safest to remain inside or evacuate your residence. Residents of Mercer County and students at The College of New Jersey should rely on Channel 19 and WPST 97.5 FM according to college officials. These are sources of emergency communications that The College will respond to.

If advised to remain inside, turn off any sources of ventilation, including air conditioning and heating systems as well as fans, and seal a room with no access to windows with duct tape and plastic sheeting. Remain inside until receiving further notice. This is when a battery-operated radio comes in handy.

How can students at The College prepare?

Here at The College, the department of Administrative and Environmental Services is working to keep students and the community informed about preparing against terrorist threats. Kathy Leverton, Associate Vice President of Administrative and Environmental Services, has circulated two e-mails to the campus community since the start of the war containing information on “sheltering in place or evacuating” in certain emergencies. Students and the surrounding community can ascertain more information via The College’s Webpage dedicated to “Campus Security in a Time of Heightened Alert.”

Campus residents are encouraged to move to an interior room with no window access in order to “shelter in place” in case of any kind of emergency. Students should remain in shelter until college officials notify residents that it is safe to leave. Communication may occur via e-mail and voicemail for on-campus students. In addition, residents should not contact parents to pick them up. Leverton suggests that all students should consider informing their families now that they will remain on-campus in the event of a “hazardous materials emergency.”

How will students know that there’s an emergency?

“Communications will be coordinated between the Office of Campus Police Services and the Office of Residence Life,” Leverton said. “Information and intelligence available at the time of the event will dictate what measures The College will need to take. Not all events will dictate sheltering in place. For the rest of the campus community, notifications will be made by every viable means of communication available to us at the time, including e-mail, voicemail, loudspeaker, room by room announcements, etc.”

“All of us should prepare ourselves for any type of emergency, whether it is a natural disaster like a flood or a blizzard, or a man-made disaster like arson/fire,” said Leverton. “Information regarding general preparedness can be found at various Web sites… I strongly encourage our community to review these invaluable resources and implement the suggestions that are made, not because a threat of a terrorist event is imminent, but because we should be prepared for an emergency.”

Stay informed!

Although our forces are currently still in Iraq fighting a war that some Americans support and others do not, the nation is not currently under serious threat of a terrorist attack.

“We are not aware of any immediate threat to our campus or anywhere in the nearby vicinity,” said Leverton. “This should not preclude people from taking general safety and security precautions, from being aware of their surroundings and reporting anything out of the ordinary, to preparing an emergency ‘go’ bag, to maintaining a small supply of water and non-perishable food… I firmly believe a more aware and informed community is a more safe and prepared community.”

For more information, refer to the following Web sites as suggested by Leverton and Administrative and Environmental Services. Being prepared does not mean changing your daily way of living but that you are educated about safety. And it is our duty as Americans to remain informed and aware in order to be safe and prepare ourselves for any sort of emergency, whether terrorist or natural. It’s your life.

• The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Web site contains pertinent information for New Jersey residents, state employees, journalists, New Jersey business, and school officials.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency site contains information on the threat of both natural and terrorist disasters.
• To aid the Red Cross in their efforts for preparedness, visit their Web site.
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security site contains information on emergencies and disasters, travel and transportation, threats and protection, and other issues.
• To stay up-to-date on information affecting New Jersey’s preparedness in case of emergency, visit the Web site of New Jersey Homeland Security.