http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/11/emergency.supplies/index.html
Duct tape sales rise amid terror fears
From Jeanne Meserve
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) --Americans have apparently heeded the U.S. government's
advice to prepare for terror attacks, emptying hardware store shelves of duct
tape.
On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison
described a list of useful items, stores in the greater Washington, D.C. area
reported a surge in sales of plastic sheeting, duct tape, and other emergency
items.
These items, Paulison said, can be helpful after a biological, chemical or
radiological attack.
A Lowe's hardware store in Alexandria, Virginia, said every roll of duct tape
has been sold. Another Alexandria Home Depot store reported sales of duct tape
tripled overnight.
"Everything that was on that newscast, we are selling a lot of it," said Rich
Pierce with a Home Depot in the D.C. area.
In his advisory, Paulison recommended that households have on hand three days
worth of water and food; an emergency supply kit for both home and automobile;
radios with extra batteries; and plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal
windows and doors. (What to do)
With concerns growing about al Qaeda's interest in acquiring weapons of mass
destruction, Paulison cautioned that aid after an attack could be hard to come
by, at least initially.
He said that in the first 48 to 72 hours of an emergency, many Americans will
likely to have to look after themselves.(Red Cross on preparedness)
If an attack occurs, Paulison said, households should tune in to local media
outlets and not evacuate unless they are told to do so.
President Bush's Homeland Security Council raised the national threat level
from yellow to orange on Friday. Orange indicates a "high" risk of terrorist
attack, and yellow indicates an "elevated" risk.
The level was raised in part because of a high amount of "chatter" being
intercepted by intelligence agencies.
When the Department of Homeland Security urged Americans on Monday to take
steps to prepare for a possible attack, it said the advice was intended not as
a "dire" warning but as cautionary advice.
Duct tape sales rise amid terror fears
From Jeanne Meserve
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) --Americans have apparently heeded the U.S. government's
advice to prepare for terror attacks, emptying hardware store shelves of duct
tape.
On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison
described a list of useful items, stores in the greater Washington, D.C. area
reported a surge in sales of plastic sheeting, duct tape, and other emergency
items.
These items, Paulison said, can be helpful after a biological, chemical or
radiological attack.
A Lowe's hardware store in Alexandria, Virginia, said every roll of duct tape
has been sold. Another Alexandria Home Depot store reported sales of duct tape
tripled overnight.
"Everything that was on that newscast, we are selling a lot of it," said Rich
Pierce with a Home Depot in the D.C. area.
In his advisory, Paulison recommended that households have on hand three days
worth of water and food; an emergency supply kit for both home and automobile;
radios with extra batteries; and plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal
windows and doors. (What to do)
With concerns growing about al Qaeda's interest in acquiring weapons of mass
destruction, Paulison cautioned that aid after an attack could be hard to come
by, at least initially.
He said that in the first 48 to 72 hours of an emergency, many Americans will
likely to have to look after themselves.(Red Cross on preparedness)
If an attack occurs, Paulison said, households should tune in to local media
outlets and not evacuate unless they are told to do so.
President Bush's Homeland Security Council raised the national threat level
from yellow to orange on Friday. Orange indicates a "high" risk of terrorist
attack, and yellow indicates an "elevated" risk.
The level was raised in part because of a high amount of "chatter" being
intercepted by intelligence agencies.
When the Department of Homeland Security urged Americans on Monday to take
steps to prepare for a possible attack, it said the advice was intended not as
a "dire" warning but as cautionary advice.
