Small Town America is in danger - the things I didn't know

I don't live with my head in the sand. I'm aware of the world around me and all the bad things happening in the world today.  But I do my best to live life as if there is everything in the world to be optimistic about.   

There are many reasons why I choose to live in small town America.  Besides the fact that I live in a neighborhood where I can do what I want, paint my mailbox with pretty flowers, park my car IN my yard if I so choose and put up whatever kind of fence I want. I choose not to live in a Stepford house in a subdivision where someone can tell me what color lights and how many Christmas decorations I'm allowed and I'm only allowed two cars and my mailbox must be black. I choose not to live in a busy, bustling downtown area where the drive home is an hour plus due to the traffic of everyone else going in the same direction.

But there are other reasons, too.  Things like crime. Yes, there is crime in my area. We have drug houses and meth labs. We have thieves, thugs and no-goods just like any other area of the world. But not on the level that larger metro areas have.  I'm thankful for that. Neighbors know one another and look after each other.  We notice when something's not right at Mr. Black's house up the street and call the cops immediately rather than "not getting involved". 

My mother lives a mile from me, and when my daughter was younger, I had no worries whatsoever of her getting on her go-kart and driving across the back road to go visit her grandmother, calling me when she got there to let me know she was indeed safe.  I didn't worry.

But these days, as I've immersed myself in First Responder courses, I've learned we aren't as safe as we think we are.  As a part of my first responder training I have had to learn about Haz Mat (hazardous materials) incidents, potentials and dangers.  Part of that training has included the potential for terrorist attacks and what I, as a first responder, need to know and look out for.  Quite frankly, the past couple of weeks have scared the hell out of me.

When I think of terrorist acts, obviously the first thing that comes to mind is 9-11 or the Oklahoma City Bombings, but only a few short years ago an abortion clinic was bombed not 50 miles from my house.  Yes, it was a bit of a wake up call, but it was still in the Big City, not in my small town where everybody knows your name.

During a recent class our instructor asked us to think of ways that a terrorist could attack our city and for what purpose.  We were all a bit dumbfounded at the idea. There are no federal buildings, nothing that we could think of as a potential target.  Yet, when the instructor gave us an example, within three minutes of him beginning his one suggestion for how our small town could be used to create havoc and mayhem, I sat there stunned.  I won't go into major details because I don't want anyone to ever USE this sort of idea and even for a moment think they got it from something I wrote.  That being said, I will never ever eat the brownies dropped off by neighborhood folk at the station again unless I SEE who brought them and know them well enough to trust them. 

Those of you who also live in small town America, you are not as safe as you think you are.  Do you live near a railroad?  Do you have any idea what they are carrying through your neighborhood?

Do you live near a major body of water? One that has cargo transported on a regular basis?  Do you know what's on the barges passing by?  You'd be surprised. 

What about the truck that passed you on the highway this afternoon on your way home from work? Do you know what that hazard placard on the back and side of the truck really mean?  Maybe you should educate yourself.  As a civilian, it won't do you a whole lot of good to know, but if you're the one behind it when it jack-knifes and spills its load everywhere, when the stuff starts leaking, you might want to know how far and how fast you need to run in the other direction. 

Just a thought.  It might save your life, or your loved ones.

One more thing.  You know how we've all been telling our children and our loved ones to add an ICE number in their cell phones?  ICE = In Case of Emergency.  While it IS a good idea, and for the most part will come in very handy if you're ever in an auto accident, there's also a big chance that if you're involved in some major event, the first responders are NOT going to call your ICE number.

Why?  There are a number of reasons.  First, if you're aware enough of your surroundings, we're going to get the information directly from you.  Second, if you're not conscious or your life is in imminent danger we are going to be way too busy trying to save your life to be looking for a number in your cell phone. 

But another huge reason that never dawned on me until our instructor brought it up tonight is because terrorists being who they are, have figured out how to use that against first responders.  A first responder could very well pick up a phone, dial that ICE number and BAM. A secondary device, an explosion just large enough to end his life.  Scary, isn't it?

I literally cried on the way home from class tonight.  I feel as if a part of my "innocence" has been lost.  I almost feel violated, and nothing has been done to me.  But my small town world has been turned upside down.  The world is shrinking and I am being sucked into the danger zone.