This section contains links to websites and articles which provide resources and information concerning America's War on Terrorism.

General Information and Resources

DisasterHelp - New Government Portal Site
February 4, 2003 - DisasterHelp.gov is designed to assist victims of disasters in locating the resources they need.  The goal of the site is to combine the resources of all the federal agencies in our partnership in one central location. 

Department of Homeland Security Web Site Launched
January 24, 2003 - Today is the first day of the existence of the new Department of Homeland Security, and Secretary Ridge launched its new citizen-centric website. The site will evolve during the coming weeks as it becomes the central place for information and services for homeland security.

HHS Awards $140 Million To Health Care Organizations That Suffered Losses From September 11 Attacks
September 17, 2002 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced that the Bush Administration is awarding $140 million in grants to reimburse hospitals, clinics and other health care organizations for costs they incurred while responding to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

HHS Approves State Bioterrorism Plans So Building Can Begin
June 6, 2002 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved comprehensive state plans to build stronger public health systems and better prepare for bioterrorism, marking the first time that federal, state and local governments have created a unified plan for responding to public health emergencies resulting from terrorism.

HHS Makes $140 Million in Emergency Funds Available to Health Care Organizations That Suffered Losses From Sept. 11 Attacks
April 8, 2002 - HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the availability of $140 million in grants for health-related costs incurred by organizations from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

FirstGov Provides Focal Point for Resources in Aftermath of Terrorist Attack
Listings of U.S. Government information and resources in response to attack of September 11. Information and links will be added as they become known.

National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) Help in Dealing With Terrorism
Includes articles such as Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), A Real Illness.

Social Security Disaster Web Site
SSA's excellent web site has a comprehensive page on their emergency procedures related to the disaster of September 11. 

Emergency Phone Number for Medicare & Medicaid Beneficiaries Whose Normal Medical Needs Have Been Interrupted by the Tragedy

Coping With Crisis
Times of crisis can lead to a lot of questions and many concerns. This is especially true for the national tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. The Federal Consumer Information Center offers many publications to help you and your family during this difficult time.

HHS Enhances Web Page As Easier-To-Use Resource On Disaster Information
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced that HHS has re-organized the agency’s Web page to make it easier to find information on resources available to those affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

HHS Makes $35M In Emergency Funds Available To Entities That Suffered Losses From September Attacks
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the availability of $35 million in competitive grants for public and not-for-profit entities that suffered losses because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

HHS Announces State Plan For $23.7 Million In Relief Funds For Disaster-Impacted Social Services
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the release of $23.7 million in social services grants for six states and the District of Columbia, areas directly affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks.

HHS Provides New Aid To Cities For Disaster Preparedness
25 Awards Today Bring Total to 97 Cities So Far Receiving Assistance.

HHS Announces Release Of $1.3 Million In Relief Funds To Older Americans Impacted By September 11 Disaster
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the release of $1.3 million in funds to the New York State Office for the Aging and the Virginia Department for the Aging, states whose seniors have been directly impacted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

HHS Announces $126 Million in Relief Funds for Disaster-Impacted Health and Social Services
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced that $126,150,000 is being provided immediately to support services provided in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist-inflicted disasters. The funds are part of a total $5.1 billion in disaster-related funds released by President Bush.

Your Health During Times of Stress
Doctors emphasize the basics during times of stress: rest, diet and exercise. This is good advice any time, but especially now, when tensions are high, and a calm, healthy body will benefit you and your community.

Scams in Wake of Disaster
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, a warning went out to the elderly and others about charity scams that may appear.

HHS' New York Regional Office Reopens Following Attacks
Secretary's Office Will Temporarily Relocate to New York Region Later This Fall

HHS Releases Immediate Grants for Child Care, Elderly and Mental Health Funds to Assist New York

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Pentagon Bombing

HHS Launches Initial Medical Relief Response To New York, Pentagon Emergencies - Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson activated the National Disaster Medical System, putting medical teams nationwide at the ready to be sent to assist local areas in responding to medical emergencies. This is the first time the federally-coordinated response system has been activated on a full nationwide basis.

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Bioterrorism Threat

FDA Proposes Two Regulations Related to Food Bioterrorism
February 3, 2003 - FDA has proposed two regulations as part of the requirements of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (also called the Bioterrorism Act of 2002). The law gives the agency new authority in protecting the nation's food supply against terrorist acts and other threats. One proposal would require domestic and foreign food facilities to register with FDA by Dec. 12, 2003.  The other proposal would require that prior notice be given to FDA before food is imported or offered for import into the United States.  FDA is accepting public comments on the proposals for 60 days.

Registration of Food Facilities:
Press release, Fact sheet and Proposed regulation (PDF file)

Prior Notice of Imports:
Press release, Fact sheet and Proposed regulation (PDF file):  

FDA Urges Applications to Market Radiation Treatment Prussian Blue
February 3, 2003 - FDA has called on manufacturers to submit marketing applications for Prussian blue. This mineral has been shown to be safe and effective for treating people for internal contamination with radioactive elements such as cesium-137, a potential component of conventional explosive devices with radioactive materials ("dirty bombs"). Prussian blue can reduce the body's burden of exposure to radioactive particles by binding with them in the gut and causing them to be eliminated from the body.

HHS Announces $1.1 Billion In Funding To States For Bioterrorism Preparedness 
On January 31, 2002, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson sent letters to governors detailing how much each state will receive of the $1.1 billion to help them strengthen their capacity to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies resulting from terrorism. The money will allow states to begin planning and building the public health systems necessary to respond.

Funds For Bioterroism
On January 25, 2002, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced plans for the release of the first installment of more than $200 million in funds from the more than $1 billion in bioterrorism money designated for states to help prepare their public health infrastructures to respond in the event of a bioterrorism attack.

FDA Bioterrorism Page Debuts
A new page with links to bioterror-related information from FDA, as well as from other authoritative sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Library of Medicine, is now on FDA's Website. Also available separately online is related information on labeling for two anthrax treatments and FDA warnings issued to sellers of unapproved foreign Cipro. 

MEDLINE Anthrax Page
MEDLINEplus, has often been cited here as the authoritative resource for health information from the federal government. We found their Anthrax page to be up-to-date and informative.

Center for Disease Control Web Site on Anthrax
Learn about this new threat to our security and dispel unwarranted anxieties.  CDC explains how to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats, and provides the latest Public Health Message updates.

Anthrax Findings Presented By NIH Researcher
An NIH Clinical Center researcher, in collaboration with physicians in Maryland and Washington DC, has published a detailed assessment of the fatal cases of inhalational anthrax that occurred in two District of Columbia postal workers.  

Additional $1.5 Billion Proposed To Combat Bioterrorism
President Bush's $20 billion emergency relief budget request includes $1.5 billion for HHS to further strengthen the nation's ability to respond to and treat potential bioterrorism attacks.