Despite growing public apprehension about terrorism, a Westwood
hardware store manager says UCLA students are largely unconcerned
with recent federal recommendations to prepare for potential
attacks.
Though he said older Westwood residents have responded to
warnings of terrorist threats by stocking up on emergency supplies,
students on and off campus seem to regard the recommended
precautions as generally unnecessary and misguided.
Public interest in emergency preparation was spurred in past
weeks by a release from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
that urged citizens to assemble emergency kits, develop family
communication plans, and increase awareness about different types
of possible threats.
The department’s Web site at www.ready.gov sports the
slogan “Terrorism forces us to make a choice. Don’t be
afraid … Be Ready,” and contains checklists of emergency
supplies and other precautionary information, including
instructions for survival in case of biological, chemical, nuclear
and radiation attacks.
Recommended supplies range from emergency basics such as first
aid kits and flashlights, to batteries and whistles, to duct tape
and face masks in case of a chemical attack.
Since the media first began publicizing the Department of
Homeland Security’s recommendations about a month ago,
Westwood merchants have experienced significant increases in
consumer demand for emergency supplies.
Jay Sidd, the manager of Boulevard Hardware in Westwood, has
experienced marked changes in his customers’ needs over the
past weeks. His store first began carrying an emergency supply kit
three weeks ago in response to consumer demand.
He has also noted a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in sales
of duct tape and plastic sheets in the weeks following the media
frenzy.
“People come in and ask for the plastic sheets to protect
against biological and chemical attacks,” he said.
Sidd observed that the vast majority of customers requesting
emergency supplies are older individuals.
“The students must not be as concerned,” he
said.
At least one Westwood landlord has taken the initiative to
notify his tenants of the recommended precautions. The landlord of
520 Kelton has posted an emergency supply list on the public
bulletin board.
But the warnings and suggestions for preparation have not been
met with universal compliance by UCLA students.
“I think the department is just increasing paranoia by
publicizing these lists,” said Chet Kasper, a second-year
economics student. “Having duct tape isn’t going to
save any lives.”
Tim Sui, a third-year business economics student harbors similar
skepticism, though he did purchase reserve gallons of water as a
precautionary measure.
“I figure, if they’re going to screw you,
they’re going to screw you,” he said, “but it
doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
Resident directors of on-campus living facilities have not yet
increased emergency supplies or undergone increased emergency
training.
“We have not responded specifically to the recommendations
(of the Department of Homeland Security), but we feel that we are
well prepared for emergency situations,” said Office of
Residential Life associate director, Jack Gibbons.
Though the Office of Residential Life does promote programs that
encourage individual emergency readiness, it has not altered its
programs in response to the recent upsurge in terrorist
concern.