Posted on 09/29/2001 11:37:20 PM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of eight secret U.S. government staging areas poised to respond to a biological or chemical attack ferried 50 tons of supplies to New York hours after the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, according to a Sunday broadcast report.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said nine tractor-trailers filled with 50 tons of vaccines, antibiotics, gas masks and ventilators -- also known as "push packages" -- were dispatched to New York after civilian aircraft hit the skyscrapers.
"We were able to move these push packages ... within hours. We were able to move (them) from where they were stored into the city of New York within seven hours," Thompson told CBS News' "60 Minutes" program in a report to air Sunday night.
As it turned out, it was neither a biological nor a chemical attack, and the trucks returned to their secret staging area.
"I think that shows you that if it happens, we're ready," Thompson said. "We're ready to perform."
A Newsweek poll released on Saturday, however, found that 46 percent of those questioned were not confident that Washington or local U.S. governments are prepared to handle a biochemical attack.
At the same time, 85 percent in the poll said they believed the use of such weapons was at least "somewhat likely." The telephone survey covered 1,000 adults aged 18 and older on Sept. 27 and 28, and had an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
According to the CBS report, staging areas nationwide also are charged with transporting medical personnel specially trained to treat victims of biological attacks.
"We have 7,000 doctors and medical assistance teams throughout America -- 7,000 medical personnel that are ready to go," Thompson said.
He said the government is prepared to take care of any contingency, any consequence that develops from any biological or chemical attack.
"I have three kids and tonight I'm telling them that they are safe. And my granddaughter who is less than 2 years old is safe as well."
Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited.
At this stage of the game for anybody in governement to be lying like that is criminal!
Many, many of the chems demand a full space-suit with air protection!
Same with some of the bios!
He must know that by now!
Or he is stupid!
Or he is being ordered to lie!
This governements defense of its citizens in the event of a bio or chem attack will be to isolate the area, and shoot anyone trying to leave!
Memo to DC: Stop your deceit!
Did they manage to put enough into nine trucks for the ten+ million people in the area?
If not, then I guess I'd be curious as to how many would be protected, who they'd be, how they'd be selected, and who'd be doing the selecting.
Regardless of what disease it was, the only question that really matters is who the lucky 40 million people will be. And who decides that answer?
I keep sensing the message from our government is one of "Don't worry; we'll take care of you if something happens." They should be encouraging people to take a few simple preventative actions so they can help themselves!
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