Are We Prepared?

Yesterday's news reports that the U.K. and United States thwarted an almost-imminent terrorist attack designed to destory as many as ten international airline flights dramatically reaffirmed the simple truth that a future major terrorist on the District continues to be a possibility. Is our neighborhood prepared?

In January 2002, the Department of Justice funded a National Crime Prevention Council report titled "United for a Stronger America: Citizens’ Preparedness Guide." The purpose of the guide is to "help Americans learn how to make preparedness a part of their daily lives and improve their neighborhoods and communities in the process." Some of the suggestions include:

● "Make a neighborhood directory and plan. Identify neighbors who need additional help, such as young children, seniors, and those with disabilities, and develop a plan to assist them in an emergency."

● "Organize an emergency preparedness kit." We are expected to "Check batteries, change the stored water, and rotate the food supplies every six months." (Do the battery-powered fire alarms in your home chirp for days before you get around to changing the batteries?) Consider the magnitude of the supermarket raids when an inch of snow falls in this city and multiply that by a factor of 10 in the event of a terrorist attack that knocks out the food and energy supply for days.... that image may provide some motivation.

Your home preparedness kit should contain the following supplies:

- A three-to-five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
- Food that will not spoil and requires no cooking (consult your local college student for details)
- A first-aid kit and needed medicines
- Emergency tools like a battery-powered radio, cell phones, flashlight, and extra batteries
- Toilet paper and plastic garbage bags
- A portable emergency generator if possible.

● "Be prepared to help others. Take a CPR and first-aid training course or get your neighborhood group to take it together."

● "Find out if your area has a Neighborhood Watch group or community association. If not, work with neighbors to start one. "

● "Be alert. Get to know your neighbors."

These are all good suggestions, most of which would be beneficial to the community even without the threat of a terrorism. Remember Katrina. We cannot assume that the government will swiftly restore order in the event of a paralyzing catastrophe.

If we don't know each other, distrust will inhibit our ability to quickly do what is necessary. Even if we don't know each other, mutual knowledge of a common community plan will help build trust quickly.... so what's the plan?

You can find the plan for our neighborhood developed by the D.C. Emergency Management Agency here. As suggested on page 20 of the plan, does anyone know of whether a Neighborhood Corps registered with D.C. Citizen Corps exists in the Eckington-Bloomingdale-Edgewood area?