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Since September 11th, 2001 our country has become aware
that our nation is not exempt from a terrorist attack. Following that
horrific event our President led our country from a position of fear and
uncertainty to a spirit of unity, courage, and strength. As Americans, we
began to once again appreciate our freedoms and return to the foundations
upon which our great nation was built. This war against terrorism continues
to be fought on many fronts around the world. Homeland Security and a
commitment to eliminate terrorism are listed among our nation’s top
priorities.
The City of Montebello is a proactive and patriotic city whose number one
priority is your safety. Your Mayor, and City Council, consistently
communicates with both Washington DC and the California State Capitol to
politically pursue public safety resources for our community. Police Chief
Couso-Vasquez and I work together and take a “Unified Command” approach to
dealing with the issue of terrorism. We monitor intelligence information
from Federal, State and Local sources. We have well-established mutual aid
and automatic aid agreements with other state and local agencies. Police
Chief Couso-Vasquez and I are well-seasoned experts in the public safety
arena with nearly 60 years of combined experience in responding to and
managing major emergencies. Your Montebello Police Officers and Firefighters
are highly trained professionals that are duly sworn to protect you.
As citizens of the City of Montebello I am asking you to partner with us in
the fight against terrorism. You can do this best by taking the following
actions:
• Realize that terrorism is a psychological “fear” based battle. Remove the
“terror” from terrorism by removing the fear. Replace your fear with faith
and action. (I personally have faith in God, our country, and the tenacity
and fortitude of our people. My personal actions include: staying informed
and being prepared.)
• Follow the direction that The Department of Homeland Security has given to
all Americans and be vigilant. Report any suspicious activity immediately to
the Police Department.
• Remember that we live in earthquake country and make basic disaster
preparedness a part of your daily life. Basic disaster preparedness includes
staying informed, having a family disaster plan, having a “go bag” and
stocking up enough provisions for three days.
• Take a first aid and CPR class with your family and friends and make it a
fun thing.
• Prepare to shelter-in-place if necessary. Don’t do it out of fear of
terrorism. Do it because it makes sense! After all, a fire at any nearby
location can give off a cloud of smoke that you may be instructed to shelter
from.
• If you receive notification to evacuate for any type of emergency, grab
your “go bag” and follow instructions.
During any disaster you can best help us by following instructions carefully
and being as self-sufficient as possible. Self-sufficiency means being
prepared. |
