Anniston Star
July 22, 2003

Troy Turner: I guess you do care!

07-22-2003

The response to last week's column surprised me a bit.

It was written more out of duty than interest, to make you think about your own plans in the event of a chemical weapons accident out at the local storage site. I frankly didn't think anyone would read it.

Of course, anytime you can write and say chemical weapons "out at the local storage site," I guess the writer and readers already have a rather unusual shared concern.

***

One of our editors sat at the staff meeting here at the newspaper as we talked about story planning for the issue, and she asked: "So, just what are we supposed to do here at The Star?"

I took my glance from face to face around the table. Some were smiling as if, "Ooops, we'd better listen to our own advice and get ready!" While others weren't smiling, as if, "This is not funny. It's real."

So here we are, a newspaper with more than 100 years of service to the local community, and at least half of them spent writing about some of the world's most deadly weapons stored at a military depot in our back yard. Yet, our own staff isn't prepared should an accident with the stockpile occur today.

That says a lot, and I don't mean just about us.

Thus the inspiration for the column last week, despite the fear of apathy, and thus a real-life example, which others of you similarly shared.

This e-mail came Friday:

"Those of us who have moved to Calhoun County in the last three years are very confused about the whole depot thing," wrote a professor at Jacksonville State University. "If you ask one person, they tell you one thing and somebody says something different.

"We at JSU probably have a plan somewhere, but none of the faculty (well, none that I have asked) know what to do."

Bingo.

***

The Anniston Star.

Jacksonville State University.

Now THERE are a couple of institutions where I'd like to think wisdom, good-reasoning and sound thought exists. (All right, critics, stop your laughing.)

Seriously, both are staffed by people who make their living by keeping abreast of current affairs, and yet both offer evidence of how this community stands unprepared.

We at The Star are doing two things in response.

One, we're appointing people to immediately investigate what our level of preparedness should be for our employees. That will be shared with all employees as soon as possible. I suggest others of you in business do likewise, or review your plans if already prepared.

Two, we have assigned several of our newsroom staffers the task of writing a series of stories with updates, and to re-write old information on how to be prepared. Those stories already have begun running, with much more to come, so keep reading.

It's not just about the incinerator poised to begin destruction of the weapons. Some protest the plan, while others such as the professor say: "I personally think it is hurting our recruiting at JSU." Indeed, the weapons must go, but that's another issue.

While they're here, so are we. Thus, while experts promise we are not in harm's way, nevertheless we should heed the Boy Scout motto:

Be prepared!