-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Homeland_security] Daily News 11/21/02 Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 09:38:29 -0600 From: "NIPC Watch" <nipcwatch@private> To: "Homeland Security" <homeland_security@private> November 20, Associated Press Experts say public isn't ready for psychological impact of terror attacks. "For every person who gets physically ill from a bioterrorist attack, there probably will be at least 50 to 100 who are so distraught that they cannot function normally in their daily lives," said Dr. Robert DeMartino, who directs the Program on Trauma and Terrorism at the Department of Health and Human Services. A traumatized public can overwhelm hospital emergency rooms, demanding treatments even if they aren't sick. If there's a system to reassure people and help those who are scared, while treating those who may have been exposed to a biological agent, there may be less panic and a more orderly response to chaos. Brian Flynn, an expert on traumatic stress, an adviser to federal agencies and a former assistant surgeon general noted that HHS has several requirements for states that are receiving $1 billion in bioterrorism grants, but working with mental health providers is not among them. Source: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20021120_300.html Disclosure Curbs In Homeland Bill Decried Information From Companies at Issue Washington Post, Saturday, November 16, 2002; Page A13 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61385-2002Nov15.html By Dan Morgan Department of Homeland Security officials who disclose "critical infrastructure information" obtained from private companies could be fined, dismissed or imprisoned for up to a year under the landmark bill setting up the new agency. The provisions could win final approval next week when the Senate votes on the bill to establish the department. They sparked a volley of criticism yesterday from civil liberties and environmental groups, as well as from some leading Democrats. Under the measure, government officials would be barred from disclosing to the public broad categories of information "not customarily in the public domain," once a company has requested in writing that it be kept confidential. Unauthorized leaks could be punished by jail terms of up to one year. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said the disclosure rules represent "the most severe weakening of the Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] in its 36-year history," adding they had been inserted in the bill "behind closed doors." Some private groups said the language will create a loophole that could make government officials fearful of disclosing information about corporate activities that pose risks to the public. _______________________________________________ Homeland_security mailing list Homeland_security@private http://listserv.infragard.org/mailman/listinfo/homeland_security
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