(Homeland) Security Agency: 'Resolve to Be Ready in 2005'

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Instead of the usual New Year's resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking or exercise more, the Department of Homeland Security urged Americans on Wednesday to create a family emergency plan for any terror attack.

"The start of a new year is a time when many Americans are inclined to think about ways to make improvements for the future," departing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said.

"Creating a family emergency plan is a great place to start. Families can create a plan that will allow them to know how best to communicate with one another in the event of an emergency," he said in a statement.

A suggestion by the department in February 2003 that Americans stockpile duct tape and plastic sheeting as part of an emergency kit in case of a chemical attack caused a rush on hardware stores and was widely ridiculed.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7163542

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Yes, Tom. I will be ready.

My two middle fingers will be at Defcon 5, for this administration. At all times.

[purduejake]

Yea, buy all this crap you will never use! BUY! BUY! BUY!

edit: I wonder if he has stock in plastic sheeting or duct tape companies.

[Sannum]

2. Here we go again!

Wheee!!

Wake me up in four years.

[Nay]

10. Love the pic. I remember doing this as a tot. Terrific.

[Nikepallas]

3. Guess this is a clue that we will have something happen in 2005

[purduejake]

4. What? The first wave of suicide bombers from Iraq?

Nah, it'll never happen.

</sarcasm>

[GetTheRightVote]

5. Run, Run for your lifes, * thinks he is pres, hind, hind

:grr:

[Javaman]

8. So, um, if something happens, then technically we're not ready...

But then again we are dealing with double speak *, here.

[LeftyMom]

6. You know why this pisses me off?

All these people who are scared shitless about a terror attack are diverting resources they could use to prepare for much more likely emergencies. Planning for emergencies you may encounter (around here that means flooding) and keeping a week or two's food and water is a good idea, putting a blanket in the car and carrying a celphone is a good idea, having a flashlight and a radio for blackouts is a good idea, buying up surplus gasmasks or antibiotics or whatever is pretty dumb.

[nashville_brook]

11. if they are serious about this they should pay people to generate energy

i for one would be happy to put 7 or 8 windmills on my property, install solar panels and maybe even a geo-thermal exchange system. gladly.

[madrchsod]

7. shut the fuck up

if a terrorist hit`s my little house in the middle of northern il with a terror attack well so be it but the chances of that are slim to none. so tom, shut the fuck up and go away.

[stray cat]

9. Bush Co said they would keep us safe so why worry?

Right, I'm worried.

[saigon68]

12. "Buy Duct Tape and Visquine", Ridge the Cowardly

Says it all