SEPT. 11, 2001: Does it seem like everything in the world has
fallen into two categories – before Sept. 11, 2001, and after Sept.
11, 2001?[neWLine]

Life goes along after a certain fashion and, at some point, you
figure it will continue to go along after that
fashion.[neWLine]

Sept. 11 made us realize that supposition is untrue. Everything
is different in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon – not just in the world and in the country but how
we have come to view ourselves.[neWLine]

And, of course, Americans will never have the same sense of
security and safety we had in the days before Sept.
11.[neWLine]

Perhaps that’s good, though, because that sense of security was
also proven to be an illusion. Forewarned is forearmed, we’re told,
and certainly planning for an emergency – war, nuclear attack or
accident, bird flu, hurricane – is something we all should be
thinking about.[neWLine]

And that segues nicely into a response we had to a column about
just that subject – preparation for any type of
disaster.[neWLine]

In response, we heard from Robin Kuleck in Ridgway, “”The
American Red Cross, Penn State Cooperative Extension and County
Emergency Management Agencies all have publications that address
family preparedness for disasters.””[neWLine]

She continues, “”Part of the problem with planning is that we
would like to know the nature of the disaster which actually isn’t
helpful.””[neWLine]

“”Who’d have thought a train derailment could cause such a
ruckus? If the chemicals spilled had been different, human life
could have been lost.[neWLine]

“”Families need to consider having cash on hand, eyeglass and
medicine prescriptions, clothing, food (human and pet) and
water.[neWLine]

“”They need to consider if the event would allow them to shelter
in place (could they survive in their home without running water,
electric and natural gas) or would they need to travel elsewhere
(assuming roads were passable and they have a full tank of
gas).[neWLine]

“”Each family should be self-reliant because even though we are
blessed with excellent volunteer services, it might be a while
before they can get to each family to provide assistance.””