Fear on backburner
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Denise Russell of Weekend Warrior in Shippensburg holds a package of Meals Ready-to-Eat and gas masks - supplies that were in demand after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. (Wally Shank/The Sentinel)
A child looks out from a pedestrian walkway at the Ground Zero site of the World Trade Center. (Ted S. Warren/AP)
Three years ago today people came and went without a qualm.
They were sad about the horrific events that led to hundreds of deaths in Oklahoma City in 1995 but did not see the act of an American, Timothy McVeigh, as all-out terrorism that should change their lives. He was caught, tried and executed and the bombing was viewed as a single incident, not the beginning of a movement that would bring more destruction and death.
Most could not imagine America being attacked with commercial jets used as weapons in suicide missions by foreign terrorists in New York City and Washington, D.C. But they happened on Sept. 11, 2001, and 3,000 people died.
And the people of this nation bonded in instant reaction to President Bush's call for a war on terrorism. Money poured from the pockets of citizens nationwide to help the families of the victims. Volunteers of emergency services went to New York to help at Ground Zero where the World Trade Center was reduced to rubble.
Families and neighbors came together in a quest for safety and for awhile time seemed to stand still with pain and grief welling up everywhere.
But the passage of time changes perspectives.
The Sentinel staff went out over the past month to find out how people feel about 9/11 and provide thoughts upon which to reflect as the third anniversary of that awful day approaches. Reporter Joseph Cress talked to area business people for the first report in this series.
As Ken Garvin sees it, there is an upside and down-side to people not saying very much about homeland security.
"The upside is we are resilient and not going to let thugs and terrorists dictate our lives," the Newville resident says.
"The down-side is we never want to get numb or forget what happened."
Garvin is disturbed by how quickly people seem to have been able to forget and go on with their lives after one of the biggest disasters in U.S. history.
"It is not like it happened 20 years ago," says Garvin, Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for Assets Protection Inc., a security firm with an office in Newville.
"We are talking not even three years. Only with the anniversary do we become more aware of it. Our enemies are aware of how quickly we forget and are back to sleeping."
A security specialist, Garvin does not know whether the public at large feels more secure, but he's convinced they appreciate the effort.
"People believe the government is doing more than it was to secure the borders and landmarks," Garvin says. "They believe the government is protecting us the best way it can."
However, he feels people no longer take alerts from the Department of Homeland Security as seriously as they should. A lot depends on attitude this presidential election year, Garvin says.
Those who dislike the current administration seem more likely to believe the alerts are politically motivated compared to supporters who treat the alerts as warnings of genuine threats.
"There are probably a lot of folks in between," Garvin says.
Alerts no longer alarm
In only three years, Denise Russell of Shippensburg has seen worry over future terrorist attacks slowly turn to apathy for homeland security alerts.
"It does not faze people anymore," says Russell who owns the Weekend Warrior army/navy store at 12 W. King St., with her husband, Gary.
"The alert level has been up so many times, it goes in one ear and comes out the other."
Business was steady for months after the attacks as people came in looking for gas masks, survival gear, meals ready to eat (MREs) and backpacks for a quick evacuation.
Customers from as far away as Maryland, Harrisburg and York placed orders for items during the surge fueled largely by media reports on the need to be prepared, Russell says.
"That phase has long since ended. Business has just been normal."
The periodic alerts have done little to boost sales in the store, but seem to have more of an impact on stores in the cities, Russell says. "They still get hit with it."
She learned of this trend through interacting with other dealers at gun and military shows.
People remain on watch
The Broad Street Army/Navy Store in Harrisburg also experienced a steady flow of business in the months following the terrorist attacks, owner Arlene Ross says.
At first, her customers thought if terrorists could attack New York City, they could attack central Pennsylvania. "People were concerned about Three Mile Island and the airports."
Patrons came in looking for gas masks, water purification tablets, extra clothing and flashlights. A few even asked about Geiger counters, which Ross thought was strange. "I would just go and not wait around to test an area" for radioactivity, she says.
As with Weekend Warrior, the buying boom continued through the end of 2001 when business started to drop off, Ross says.
Demand really fell after U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein in December. Since then, the level of interest has been "very spotty" ... here or there.
"It's sort of on the back burner," Ross says. "People are not as concerned. When we picked up terrorists, they felt a little more at ease. When we got Saddam, the tension was not as tight."
Now only a handful of customers come in each week with lingering fears over terrorism, Ross says. "There is some concern because we have the capital here."
The periodic alerts have resulted in some people purchasing gear or replenishing stocks. "It is not like it was before. I've heard people mention it during those scares."
A few have even said they plan to stay away from large cities like Washington, D.C.
Now it seems people are not paying as much attention to the terror alerts, but remain watchful for anything odd or out of place.
Countries such as Ireland have a history of dealing with terrorism, Ross says. "What would make us think we are above it all? We are not.
"We should be diligent and watch what is going on. I know it is not the American way, but that changed on 9/11."
Truck firms careful
The attacks were a wake-up call for a lot of local clients served by Assets Protection Inc., Garvin says. "More than anything, we were asked to come in and do more consulting work."
In some cases, requests for service were motivated by managers trying to reassure employees. A few times, his firm helped to fine-tune outdated security practices.
But it was business as usual within six to eight months and little conversation since then about homeland security, Garvin says.
The security alerts resulted in clients asking whether Assets Protection would post armed security guards at some sites as a deterrent.
Others have asked whether Assets Protection guards have specific training in key areas.
Garvin says, of all the clients, trucking firms are the most responsive to terror alerts because the FBI has warned that tractor-trailers are more vulnerable. "They have been very proactive in making sure their property is secure."
Assets Protection Inc. did not see a large increase either in client base or hours covered, he adds.
Security the concern
Russ Wantz is president of the Schaad Detective Agency in York, which provides security guards to clients throughout the midstate including Cumberland and Perry counties.
The attacks resulted in a spike in business that lasted just beyond the first anniversary. "I would say it has cooled down a little bit. Everybody is in a wait-and-see position. No one feels comfortable."
Clients now take a more serious look at security, Wantz says, adding a lot of them have made adjustments taking on costs they did not anticipate.
Since the attacks, there has been a greater demand for armed security, which necessitates additional training and licensing, Wantz says.
He adds demand for canine services in bomb and drug detection is also greater.
While clients take security alerts into consideration, they do not necessarily change their plans, Wantz says.
