Security Drills, Terrorism and threats, oh my.

[greysangel]

This morning we had a shelter in place drill...the idea is that if something happens in a building in the area, you go to the core of the building and stay there and wait to hear what's happening.

I have to be honest here, the thought is terrifying...the idea of sitting and waiting like a target here on the 22nd floor in midtown manhattan. I'm trying to calm myself as no one seems to be as emotional about this as I am, but it's scary as heck.

Guess I'm just looking for hugs. I know we can't live in fear, but I also just wish this whole thing could be over.

JeAnne

[Jessica]

I think it is normal to be scared. The lack of a control factor makes terrorism frightening even though it is remote possibility that any of us will be hurt by a terrorist attack.

(((((JeAnne)))))

[cab321]

That does sound scary - it seems as though your natural inclination would be to get the heck out! Sort of like the nuclear bomb drills we used to have to do in school - everyone in the hall with their head between their knees.

Like Jessica said - just keep remembering the likelyhood of ever needing this is very small. And I'm hoping that you never need it.

[donleyk]

(((hugs))) We have the same type of awareness going on where I work. It's creepy at best. Take care!

[muriel3002]

{{{hugs}}}

But, we have not done any such drill here. We have a tornado drill once and a while where everyone saunters to the designated interior gathering spot. . . but no terrorism drill.

Granted I work in a one-story building, but does that make a difference?

[greysangel]

I just feel scared..I hate to admit it but I do. A couple of weeks ago I walked out for lunch and the NYPD was doing some kind of terrorist drill. There were tons of cars and police running around and people on the street didn't know it was a drill and it was crazy. I try to think rationally and think I'm more likely to be hit by a car, but I'm sure the people at the WTC thought the same thing
:( And the people in Tower II did wait to hear for instructions that never came :(

And I'm so angry that the RNC is happening in NYC. I know why they chose NYC, but in my opinion it's a terrible decision and I know a lot of people that think the same thing.

j

[Gracie]

JeAnne - are the drills because of the RNC? Or is that the new way of life in NYC?

I hope you all have the same experience dealing with the RNC that we did with the DNC. It was a bigger fizzle than Y2K. We were worried about gridlock for miles and hours and I had the best commutes I've ever had. And of course nothing happened terrorist-wise. The RNC will be over before you know it and way easier to deal with than you ever thought.

Loren

[greysangel]

Well I think part of it is "every day reality" now and part of it is the recent heightened security in regards to investment banks being named as a target in nyc. Citigroup is a few blocks away from where I am ...I am in an investment bank surrounded by other banks all over.
And the third "part" is the RNC which actually I'm thinking is probably going to be more dangerous because of the protesters rather than the terrorists :rolleyes: They are planning on 1,000 arrests a day. Our group (THANK GOD!!!) is working from home, but I wouldn't have come in anyway getting off the subway one block from madison square garden. It's different from DNC (i think? :confused: ) in that NYC is not republican friendly right now. Plus you have lots of peeps pretty angry that the republicans are using 9/11 as a sort of emotional ploy. Guiliani is going to be speaking etc... I think it's actually going to backfire in terms of drumming up support.

Anyhoo I feel a bit better...at least the tear fest is under control. :rolleyes: I'm such a wuss. I tend to get all hysterical before the fact and then when real emergencies happen, I'm the one lifting the car off the trapped baby :rolleyes: I guess better to be hysterical without reason than be hysterical when I need to be strong :o

j

[MrsReber]

JeAnne, I'm right there with you. Love hearing that the Prudential building, which is a block away from my building, is a target. The security is great around that building, but what about us? My brother, upon hearing the broadcast on the 1st, told me that it's not worth it. He asked if I was still going to go to work. I said "what choice do I have?" I guess our building security is okay, but you simply don't know what these wackos can dream up. They spend their lives figuring out how to kill us and it scares the pants off of me. I work in a 25 story building, which is one of the bigger ones in this area. I never in a million years would have thought Prudential would be a target. Now I'm wondering if my building was ever on that list. We're not a financial institution, but if this building were attacked, it could have detrimental affects all over NJ and possibly in other states because of the service we provide. My company voluntarily raised its internal alert system, which is similar to the US government system.

No, you're not alone. Ever since 9/11, I can't help but get nervous when I see middle eastern looking people getting on the train. I go through all sorts of little scenarios in my head after the trains blew up in Madrid. I hate that it's become a way of life. I keep thinking how my babies need me at home. The only thing that puts me at ease is to think that our government has this information. They put out the terror alerts and that will most likely deter them. Just think of what could've happened if we didn't have this information. I hate living like this, but I have to believe it's better than being in the dark.

[greysangel]

Originally posted by MrsReber
I hate living like this, but I have to believe it's better than being in the dark.

I'm totally with you Susan (hugs)...I force myself to believe it's better than being in the dark. But I keep wondering when people are going to get out of the dark ages?! I mean, all this fighting back and forth and so much of it is over religion and/or power. There is no winning this and I'm sure there are plenty of Iraqui citizens not really caring right now who the heck is in charge as long as their lives stop being in danger :(

Ugh..I just feel helpless and frustrated.

j

[Jeanz]

Ladies, I am soo with you. We are a block south of the WTC and share a wall with the American Stock Exchange. It is so much fun to come to work the once a month or so that it happens and find 7 guys in battle fatigues with machine guns and 2 or 3 dogs hanging around our entrance. I mean, I personally work at a small non-profit. My SIL (who lives in Phoenix) thinks that they are just drilling, but it never feels right...

We had our emergency drills last week... :(

Jean

[MrsReber]

I know! I know! At last, someone who has the same fears that I have! I try to talk to my dad and he tells me over and over not to worry about it, don't let the terrorists win. I understand that way of thinking, but it doesn't make it any easier. Guess we just need to be cautious and observant. When we have our fire drills here, the fire chief always reminds us that we are responsible for our own safety. I shudder to think of those people at WTC who were waiting for instructions. My mom's friend had just gotten off the path train under WTC when the first plane hit. The police told them to stay inside, but she and a bunch of others pushed their way out of the building. Good thing.

My mind has such a hard time grasping the idea that there are people out there who spend years and years trying to figure out how to do harm to others. I mean, I have my hands full just trying to get through a regular weekday. I can't imagine devoting myself to something so evil and wrong. They're like a bunch of delinquint kids wanting to see things blow up and people hurt. I also think that their message is becoming less clear to others and that could potentially be a good thing.

I think it's a bit different for people like us who were so close to it all, too. Sometimes it's just nice to know that someone else has the same fears. Glad you don't have to go in during the convention. I'm beginning to think that traffic is going to be very light that week.

[MrsReber]

JeAnne, I'm sure it doesn't help that most of these terrorists end up living in NJ!

My mom works right near the stock exchange, too. She tells me about the armed guards she sees on a daily basis. She finds it a bit unnerving, too, but sadly, it has become a way of life.

My dad is in AZ. It's easy not to worry about it so much when it's not right in your face each day.

[colleency]

(((Jeanne and everyone who is scared)))

I can relate to this completely. I'm completely terrified by earthquakes, which are somewhat similar to terrorism in the fact that you get lots of vague warnings all the time, and no warning of the actual event.

I was involved in an earthquake drill once where someone managed to come up with an instrument that made the sound that happens in an earthquake. Right after the drill, I burst into tears. Embarrassing! But I do take comfort in the fact that during a crisis I always keep my head. I worry ahead of time and fall apart when I'm not needed after it is all over.

And I don't live or work in a tall building, but I live within blocks of LAX airport and I work under the flight path of the Orange County airport.

(((More hugs)))

[MrsReber]

Colleen, I'd be scared to death of earthquakes if I lived out there. Hence, I will probably always live on the east coast, somewhere without regular earthquakes or tornados, but lots of terrorists. Guess you can win either way. The boogie man is always out there.

We had an earthquake in NJ that woke me up one night. It was weird. I didn't like it at all. I think it was a 4.0.

Here's hoping that we all stay safe!

[gabbyh]

Gosh...JeAnne's thread has brought back memories for me...

I can remember being a child in the 50's and going through air raid drills in school...a large siren would sound off, and we would grab the biggest book we had, which I guess was our Geography book, file down to the school basement, in the boiler room, all sit against the wall, in this scrunched position, and put the darn book on our head!

We would sit there in that position until we would hear the "all-clear" sound...

It was so frightening, kids would cry, I actually used to vomit...it was a scary time in America...

And now all these terrorist drills remind me of the same thing...it won't be long until we start having drills in schools again...oh, I hope it doesn't get to that point...0ver 40 years later, and it's still a vivid memory....

~Gail

[mbrogier]

Hugs to all of you in the war zone.

I attend school that is in the same building as Prudential in Schaumburg. I saw a car circling the parking lot across the street for over an hour today, so when I got home I called and told the police. They took a report and told me to call them again if I saw the car. At least they're taking the reports seriously. There are a lot of business headquarters right in this small area where I am, like Zurich. I was wondering if the car was casing the place. If someone is up to no good, there will be some kinks in their plan. Its just sad that we can't go about our daily business without looking for suspicious activity.

[feistyDeeDee]

it is perfectly normal to be scared....i live in Pennsylvania...the one plane that crashed here actually flew over my house, but of course i didnt know it at the time...where my kids go to school, that day, we all took our kids out of school and went straight home (in fear)...we all wouldnt be normal if we didnt feel this way...its unfortunate that such evil exists, especially in the USA where we are free, but of course they are very envious of us, but its no excuse...im tired of all of this also...HOW DARE THEY MAKE US FEEL THIS WAY...but you know im not going to let them ruin my life i have much more important things to worry about, not to say im not worried about more attacks, but i have to keep my mind occupied and hope we all, especially the targeted cities, will be safe and not attacked again or any new areas...my hopes and prayers are with you and yours and all of us...WE SHALL OVERCOME...huggggggggs

[SusanPC]

We have Shelters in place, were told to keep running shoes in the office, have fire wardens and drills, food rations, etc.

We had a bomb threat recently. I was sitting at my desk working and a staffer said "Don't you think this is what people did on 9/11?" It made me scurry out of my office very quickly. Only to forget what level I had parked my car on and thinking I was very stupid to be wandering around the garage under the circumstances.

I agree, it is a sad reality we live in today. I tend to be the opposite of you in that I tend to expect the best. Not sure if that is the smartest thing.

Hugs to you Jeanne. Hang in there.