This Week's Facts:

1. September 11th is Day for Remembrance & Service

2. Help Promote Emergency Preparedness throughout September

3. Website Details Federal Agencies' 9/11 Investigations

Homeland Security Sponsoring Remembrance Project

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is sponsoring a 9-11 Remembrance Project. According to the Remembrance Project Facebook page, the project is open to all residents of Indiana. Entries can be audio, video, picture, or written explaining the personal impact that 9/11 has had on you and your loved ones. IDHS would like to remind everyone that this is intended to remember and honor the victims of the terrorist attacks and submissions may be used by IDHS online and in the Hoosier Responder.

Submissions are currently being accepted. IDHS will view each submission and list the finalists on the IDHS website and Facebook page. If chosen, you will be awarded a fully stocked preparedness kit.

Audio and video submissions must be in one of the following formats to be eligible for the contest: .avi, .flv, .mpa, .mp3, .mpeg, .mpg, .m4p, .mov, .wmv, .wm a.   Entries can be submitted via Facebook or email at PIO@dhs.in.gov

Website Details Federal Agencies' 9/11 Investigations

Most people are familiar with the 9/11 Commission Report, the official federal report of the circumstances surrounding the attacks. The commission reported on the attacks themselves, as well as the government’s response during and after. This includes the investigation done by various federal agencies. As you may imagine, one such agency was the FBI. Code-named PENTTBOM, the FBI investigation into the 9/11 attacks was the largest in the agency’s history. You can read about the investigation here. The site includes press releases and photographs of the hijackers. The attacks also led to sweeping changes within the FBI, giving priority to terrorist strike prevention and intelligence-driven action. See how these changes came about and the ensuing agency reconstruction here. This site also has information on the response and recovery, statistics, the flights themselves, and the people involved. You can also see a timeline of the events and view first-hand accounts from FBI agents who experienced the attacks.

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Friday Facts Editorial Team:

Katharine Springer
State Data Center Coordinator

Elisabeth O’Donnell
Federal Documents Librarian
&
Kim Brown-Harden
State Documents Coordinator

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For those who were directly affected or those who had friends or family who were directly affected by the 9-11 terrorist attacks, we dedicate this issue of Friday Facts.

The three locations where attacks took place - Washington D.C., New York, and Pennsylvania - each have physical and online memorials. We encourage you to view these in remembrance.

The National September 11 Memorial recognizes the citizens who died that day and those who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The New York Police Department’s Fidelis Ad Mortem online memorial is a series of photos and remarks which honor the fallen NYC Police officers from September 11. The Pentagon Memorial Park is at the southwest corner of The Pentagon in Arlington, VA. The National Park Service has constructed a temporary memorial in Pennsylvania for the passengers of Flight 93, which went down on September 11, 2001, and are in phase one of construction on a permanent memorial. The dedication will be this Sunday.

September 11 is Day for Remembrance & Service

Established by the Serve America Act of 2009 (PL 111-13), the National Day of Service and Remembrance seeks to honor those who died in the attacks of September 11 by encouraging citizens to participate in acts of service. Volunteering also honors those who gave their time and/or money to help in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

In keeping with the President’s United We Serve campaign, organizations around the country are providing opportunities to volunteer, whether it be working at a food kitchen, helping with home repairs, or picking up trash at a local park. Are you interested in helping, but don’t know how? Check out Serve.gov, the official website of United We Serve. You can use this site to search for volunteer opportunities in your area. This is a government website, but different types of organizations can post service projects here as well. You can also use the Corporation for National & Community Service website to look for service opportunities. This allows you to search by location and for the kinds of volunteering you are most interested in. Of course, volunteering is a good thing to do, no matter what time of year! However, if you find yourself dragging your feet, National Day of Service and Remembrance is a great excuse to get out there and get started.

Help Promote Emergency Preparedness in September

As we approach the anniversary of September 11^th, this is a time to remind ourselves to be prepared in case of natural or man-made disasters. September has been proclaimed National Preparedness Month here in Indiana. Throughout the month, there will be activities in Indiana and across the country to promote emergency preparedness. According to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, keeping you and your loved ones safe involves four important steps: 

1. Get a kit - a supply kit that will help you and your family survive until help arrives. Each kit should include items such as water, food, flashlight, battery-powered radio, and a first aid kit. Try to make sure the kit has enough items for each person in your household and can last for up to three days.

2. Make a plan - Do you and your family members know how to escape if your home catches fire, or a tornado strikes?  A plan is vital to keep you and your loved ones safe during an emergency. You also need to include some type of communication plan and designate where you and your family will reunite if you become separated.

3. Be informed - Do you know if your home or office is located in a flood plain? Would you know if a severe thunderstorm is headed in your area in the middle of the night? Do you know the difference between a tornado WATCH and a WARNING? Do you know your neighbors well? This kind of information is critical and could mean the difference between life and death.

4. Get involved - Once you and your family are prepared, you can teach your neighbors, friends, and others to become prepared. Businesses and schools should have emergency plans and make sure they’re known to each individual in the organization. Families should have meetings and form networks with neighbors and friends. Remember that preparedness and information can help yourself, family & friends safe during disasters.  

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