Many of us prefer not to think about bad things happening.  And most of us don't believe we will ever be affected by a terrorist attack, not here in North Dakota. It's true, terrorism may be a remote possibility, but other emergencies do happen. With the Minot anhydrous ammonia spill in 2002, we saw that it doesn't take a terrorist act to cause a public health emergency. Every day, trucks and trains carry potentially hazardous material through our state. Our residents travel the world and could be faced with terrorist situations while in other states or countries. No matter where we live or travel, we should always be ready to expect the unexpected.

The best way for you to be safe is to be as prepared as possible for any potential disaster. The North Dakota Department of Health provides a home Emergency Supplies Kit/Checklist that you can access here.  Be sure to include copies of important papers in your evacuation kit.  Learn more at www.knowyourstuff.org.