September 11th, 2006

Having grown up in New Jersey, 45 minutes or so for New York City by train, September 11th 2001 hit me hard. That is not to say that people that lived elsewhere were not as negatively impacted by this tragedy or worse then I was. However, the experiences of most that live in Overland might be a bit different then mine.

The Town I grew up in lost 36 people (if memory serves) to September 11th, 2001. Forever burned in my mind are not just the events that lead up the fall of the towers (it so happened I had been off that morning and watched the entire event live on the news). My memories include the pain I could hear in my parents voices when we talked. From the house I grew up in (where they still lived at the time) you could see the smoke rising, and it continued to do so for a long time. The shock of the event changed everyone on some level. Most of my friends and family became different people in some ways. This event sent ripples of change through our nation as a whole.

In the late 1990s I took the women who later became my wife to meet my parents for the first time and we visited New York City while we were there. We experienced the observation deck of the World Trade Center together, it was a first for both of us (I never did the "tourist things" when I visited New York as a young man). We can never revisit that event outside of our minds now. I have been back to New Jersey 3 times since then, and I have avoided ground zero each time. I do not want those who attacked us on that day to replace my memories of events in the square or my wife's first visit to NYC with the vision of the aftermath. When they finally build a building there I will be there, along with my wife and my daughter. We will visit whatever observation deck they create, as well as the memorial that will surly be a part of the site.

I will let the triumph of a new, tall building rising up in the place of the towers take the place of my older good memories, but nothing else.

We should NEVER forget what happened that day. Prior to 9/11 we did not take treats against us very seriously. We know now that we can no longer afford to think like that. However, this sort of thinking is not limited to our country. We need to take all threats seriously as individuals and families as well.

September 11th, 2001 should have taught our country many lessons. Whether it has or not is perhaps debatable. It should have taught us all something about personal preparedness as well. However, based on what many experienced in the recent electrical outage here in Overland, perhaps we need a refresher.

September 11th was a tragedy beyond measure, and one that will be burned into the minds of everyone who was alive at that time, forever. The horrors of 9/11 are unquestionable. However, what comes from it might be. I would rather be able to say that 9/11 helped save lives in the long run.

Below I have included a handful of links to information to help us all plan for disasters, be they acts of terror or acts of God. If we are all prepared to care for ourselves to some degree, we help strengthen our country and our community, making us a "harder target" in the face of any disaster or emergency. Take a look at some of the information and suggestions on the following sites. it is my hope that they will help everyone plan and prepare to keep our families safe in the event of potential future disasters I hope we never see:

• FEMA's Disaster Information
• FEMA's "Are you Ready?" Guide
• Ready America's Family Plan recommendations
• American Red Cross's Recommendations
• GSA's Family Disaster Kit Recommendations
• NOAA's Story Ready Program
• The American Heart Association on CPR

I hope this information is useful for everyone. Never Forget what happened on September 11th, 2001. Most importantly, learn from it, as well as other disasters that have struck our nation and community. Please take a few moments with the links above and learn about the various disasters that can effect us, and the ways you can better to protect yourself and your family. Knowledge is power but preparation is survival.

What better time to consider ways to better protect your family then on the anniversary of a national tragedy like 9/11? Maybe it should be a holiday, a day when Americans checks on their disaster supplies and takes time to learn about new ways to protect their families.