Their own words...
Excerpt from remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to the National Congress for Secure Communities, in Washington, DC, on December 17, 2007.I want to highlight what is the key foundation element in everything that we're talking about in terms of preparedness -- and that is individual responsibility. We need your leadership at the local level to echo the message that we are sending at the national and state level, which is getting people prepared by getting together a kit of the necessary things that they need, making a plan, and staying informed. You all know that these three principles are the key to responding to any disaster of whatever kind.
Sometimes people think it's complicated. Sometimes people think it's just not going to happen. What we have to do is demystify this. We have to make it clear that this is no different than the kind of preparations a responsible person does before they take, for example, their family on a long vacation trip in the automobile. You know, you check the car, you check the tires, you make sure the automobile is running properly, maybe you take it in for an oil change. This is basic stuff that all of us do and learn to do in order to protect our families with respect to everyday challenges. And now, as you look at the possibility of hurricanes and ice storms and earthquakes, you'll recognize how important it is to build this same mindset, and to make it accessible to people if we're going to survive ice storms and fires and other kinds of catastrophes, and even, God forbid, some kind of medical emergency or a terrorist attack.
Not only do we have to demystify it, but we have to make this part of the morality of public life, part of civic responsibility, because my view is that when able-bodied people take the steps they need to take care of themselves for 48 or 72 hours, what they are doing is they are freeing the first responders to help those who cannot help themselves. On the other hand, if you simply throw your hands up and you don't bother, and you figure someone is going to come and take care of you, then what you're likely doing is distracting a responder who could otherwise be helping someone who can't help themselves. And I think -- so it is really a matter of public morality and civic engagement.
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