February 8, 2002—Gov. Mark Schweiker called on Pennsylvania business leaders to join the front lines in the fight against terrorism by making security and safety a priority in the workplace as well as the community at large.
The Governor encouraged business owners and operators not only to ensure that emergency procedures are in place, but to go one step further by becoming part of a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) or becoming part of one of the Commonwealth’s nine regional counter-terrorism task forces.
Gov. Schweiker also highlighted his call for the formation and training of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) throughout the Commonwealth. The Governor said that CERTs will act to support Pennsylvania’s first line of defense and response in time of crisis and will be a valuable resource at all times.”I hope you understand that no community, no business is immune from the threat of terrorism—or its devastating consequences,” Gov. Schweiker said. “In this day and age, it is truly an ‘all hands on deck’ mentality when it comes to emergency response and fighting terrorism.
Coupled with federal funding, the Schweiker Administration will spend more than $200 million—an unprecedented investment—on security and emergency-response efforts across the Commonwealth. Gov. Schweiker addressed more than 150 business leaders in Southeast Pennsylvania as part of a one-day conference, titled “From Ground Zero to the Workplace: What You Should Know,” sponsored by the American Red Cross, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.
