Discussion:

Were you in KC for the big homeland security drill? I read about it in the paper. Good to know that you'll be prepared for riots in KC and car bombs at the Nebraska Furniture Mart....I'll sleep much better.

Yes. That was what I was there for mostly. Lots of paranoia drives the federal budgets for staff, travel and hardware. Justifications aside, the table-top exercise really was good for the participants. It helps identify weaknesses in required plans. Mock newscasters announced different disasters like tankers exploding in harbors, bombs exploding at federal buildings, computer viruses and terrorist machine gunnings at other government facilities. To make it more real, other exercise workers injected other interruptions like sick employees, Congress persons not wanting to be ignored even during disasters, and even the routine such as a computer mouse not working. The teams had to decide when to implement plans and how to adapt them when unplanned contingencies ocurred. More often than not, scenarios ensued which agencies were not prepared for due to budget or other priorities that keep them from doing so. Sorry we didn't get a chance to run. After work it was 6:30 before I was back at the hotel.

With all that work, it still seems that preparations are not underway for the most serious of dangerous - the notorious attack badgers!!! Time for more planning, especially on site in the Medicine Bows. But you can wait until the snow melts;-}