Bio Terrorism
As we know, terrorism is no longer in remote countries or along international boundaries. It came to the United States with the September 11, 2001, bombing, and the threat continues to rise as the terrorists look to different weapons of mass destruction as a means to their end to destroy our way of life.
Today we are here to explain the status of Charles County's homeland protection plan as we strike back against the terrorists who are attacking our country.
First, this is not a press conference or definitive question and answer session. Everyone has many questions. Government does not have all the answers. Further, we cannot emphasize enough the important role of our citizens in the success of this effort. Effective collaboration is truly our best defense.
We do not want our citizens to be so terrified that they will not go about the business of America. If we let terror rule, the oppressors have won. However, our citizens are our eyes and ears. They need to be on alert to report suspicious activity, and to know who and when to call if they have questions, and what information to provide to authorities.
We want our citizens to know that we have not been operating in a vacuum, and have a comprehensive program to respond to threats of other emergencies as they arise. Our plan is being coordinated through our Local Emergency Planning Committee, which is comprised of numerous public and private agencies. Each agency has responsibility in this effort, and have been dealing with emergencies before September 11, 2001, through the Charles County Emergency Operations Plan.
Our objective today is to give you some background on the Local Emergency Committee, information on anthrax, mail handling, contacts and phone numbers, and sources for additional information.