2010 News

May 7, 2010

County COO Joins Bucks County Emergency Management Agency to Remind Residents: “Be Alert for Suspicious Activity”

Ready BucksAs last weekend’s potential car bomb tragedy in Manhattan’s Times Square reminded all Americans, there is no time to let down your guard against suspicious activity. To that end, the Bucks County Chief Operating Officer Brian Hessenthaler joins county Emergency Services Director John D. Dougherty, Jr. and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force (SEPA RTF) to provide some helpful suggestions for public awareness.

“With the incident in New York, we have to remind everyone that the citizens are our first line of defense,” Dougherty reiterated. “The latest New York incident started in a community in Connecticut. It could easily have started in Bucks since we are so close to both the cities of New York and Philadelphia.”

Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin urges county residents to “be on the lookout” for activity that seems out of the norm. “If you see it, report it,” Chairman Martin stated. Pennsylvania has an established terrorism tip line that can be reached by calling 1-888-292-1919. Information about terrorism is readily available on the “Emergency Management” page of the official county Web site, www.BucksCounty.org.

According to Mr. Dougherty, some of the outward signs of potential terroristic activity include individuals making diagrams or taking photographs or notes on:

  • Building Plans
  • Security Shift Changes
  • Security Weak Points
  • Traffic Flow
  • Location of Security Personnel
  • Location of Security Cameras

Additionally, any suspicious vehicles or persons buying unusual amounts of gas, propane tanks or other combustible materials should be viewed with extra scrutiny. Mr. Hessenthaler called the public our first line of defense. “Alert someone, contact authorities,” he said.

To learn how to prepare your family for all types of emergencies, visit www.readyregion.org. Residents can receive important emergency messages to your mobile phone or email by subscribing to ReadyNotifyPA at www.ReadyNotifyPA.org.  The SEPA RTF program is free and simple to use. Text message fees from wireless carriers may apply.