February 20, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 18, 1423

CINCINNATI, Feb 19: US Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge urged Americans on Wednesday to take three simple steps to prepare for any terror attack: put together a home emergency kit, draw up a family contact plan and know where to get official advice.

Duct tape and plastic sheeting — the object of some confusion and ridicule in the government’s earlier attack advice — canbe stashed away for now, he said.

It still might come in handy for a temporary safe room inside the home in the event of chemical or biological attack, he added.

“Terrorists force us to make a choice. We can be afraid or we can be ready,” Ridge said. “Americans aren’t afraid and we will be ready.”

The homeland security chief said the “Ready Campaign” he unveiled would carry its message to the country by broadcast and print public service announcements.

It will be backed by a new Web site —- http:// www. ready.gov — and a toll-free telephone line for advice, 1-800-BEREADY.

The home emergency kit, Ridge suggested, could be largely put together with items already found around many households: three days worth of nonperishable food and water, some battery-powered flashlights and a battery powered radio.

Assemble the items in one place, he suggested, and “go back to living.”

“Stash away the duct tape. Don’t use it,” he said. But the tape and plastic sheeting could be used in the future for a safe room that would protect people inside for “several hours” against poisonous agents.

Everyone should make a “family communication plan” so they know how to reach each other and where to assemble in the event of an attack.

The third element, he said, is to stay informed via the new Web site and toll-free number as well as knowing local emergency contact numbers.

The security alerts which the government issues, he said, are mainly for professional law enforcement people.

But the country should not forget that the next attack “could happen to any community at any time.”—Reuters