US unveils terror advertising campaign

The US Homeland Security Department has unveiled a major new advertising campaign that uses television, radio, newspapers and billboards to urge Americans to prepare for possible terrorist attacks.

It gives information on the differences between chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and features New York firefighters and police encouraging the public to take the terrorist threat seriously – without panicking.

The campaign conveys much the same information as homeland security officials publicised on February 10.

But the earlier announcement generated confusion and concern because of a recommendation that people consider buying duct tape and plastic sheeting to build safe rooms in their homes as a precaution against chemical attack.

Last week’s announcement was hurriedly scheduled three days after the US government raised the terrorist threat level to “high risk,” and was not as carefully scripted as yesterday’s full-blown public education project.

Called the Ready Campaign, it was a year in the planning and will last for years, US officials said.

“Terrorists seek to turn our neighbourhoods into battlefields,” Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said yesterday in Cincinnati.

“That is why individual citizens have an important role to play.”

A main goal of the adverts is to steer Americans to one of his department’s Websites, www.ready.gov, where people can arrange to receive brochures.

The Website and other brochures detail how people should respond before and after various types of terrorist strikes, with sections on such topics as Make an Emergency Kit, Creating a Family Plan, Deciding to Stay or Go, In a Moving Vehicle and In a High-Rise Building.

The goal is to allow members of the public to take in the information at their own pace and to absorb the message that an attack is possible, but without panicking them, officials said.