EVERETT – The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks had a lasting effect on countless people, including Everett’s Patti Vance.
Though the attacks may now be a thing of the past for some, not so for Vance. She said learning how to prepare for emergencies such as a terrorism attack is “a big responsibility to my community.”
Vance was one of nearly 100 people who attended an all-day workshop Saturday on terrorism sponsored by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The free workshop drew a wide range of people, including business owners, members of community groups and neighborhood watch captains, organizers said.
The program, conducted by the National Sheriffs’ Association, aims to increase awareness of terrorism and help people prepare for crises, Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart said.
“When they leave here, they will think more like an emergency responder,” Bart said.
Terrorism can happen anywhere and in many forms, said Don Driskill, a workshop instructor.
“We come here for what? We come here to learn about terrorism and try to do something about it. What an excellent place for terrorists to attack,” Driskill said.
He explained some of the types of weapons – biological, chemical and radiological – that could be used in terror attacks.
Other presenters pointed out that it’s important to look out for suspicious activities and report those to law enforcement, giving as much detail on the suspects as possible.
The Internet is rife with instructions on making weapons, Driskill said. When he did an Internet search using the words “bomb making,” more than 24,000 results came up, he said.
“That was a surprise, how readily the information is available for everyone. That’s overwhelming and scary,” said Donelle Kienholz, a program director for Youth Connection AmeriCorps Program in Everett, one of the AmeriCorps network of national service programs.
Kienholz said she attended the workshop to learn how to work with other agencies to ensure the community’s safety.
Larry Price of Snohomish said the workshop reinforced what he already knew about terrorism. But Price, who works for the Kent School District, wants to share what he learned with his co-workers, he said.
“Knowledge is power,” said Price, 50. “In a crisis situation, you can use knowledge to prevent hysteria.”
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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