Henry County Sheriff's Office
Guide to Homeland Security

Be prepared, not afraid.

For the latest news, click here, or scroll down.

The Henry County Sheriff's Office is continuously monitoring intelligence regarding homeland security and will provide updates  whenever necessary.  

We have a staff of professional law enforcement officials, public health professionals and emergency management personnel available to review material and information from a large variety of sources to ensure your safety.

The information presented here is intended to be general in nature.  Any  information of an urgent nature will be released through normal media channels.

Regardless of the current National Security Threat Level, we should take every opportunity to prepare ourselves as we would for any emergency such as a fire, flood or natural disaster. This site is intended to be a resource for residents and employees of Henry County to find up-to-date information and links to national resources on terrorism and preparedness.

Being prepared for an emergency involves learning as much as you can and making plans to act. You should be alert to suspicious activity and know how to report it to your local law enforcement agency, most commonly done by calling 9-1-1.  If you have not already done so, you should create a disaster plan with family members. If you have a plan, it should be reviewed and periodically updated. Contact your  neighbors to discuss their plans and needs.

Your family disaster planning should including stockpiling nonperishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit to sustain your family for at least a week.

Determine meeting places and escape routes for you and your family if you become separated. If possible, choose an out-of-state friend or relative as a single point of contact to coordinate family messages. Each family member should be in possession an emergency contact list. This list should not only contain telephone numbers, but possible email address and pager numbers too.

The very nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning, therefore you should be prepared to be without service you normally depend on that could be disrupted, such as electricity, telephone, natural gas, gasoline pumps and Internet transactions.

Remember, terrorists need:
 
  • A place to live...  Are you suspicious of any tenants or visitors?
  • A plan...  Have you seen anyone pay an unusual amount of attention to security measures at any location?
  • A source of money...  Individuals may set up fake bank accounts, copy credit cards, and return goods for large cash refunds
  • A source of materials...  If you own a business, are you suspicious about anything that has been bought or stolen from you?

Current Risk
Current Threat Level, click for details on what this condition means. 
Homeland Seciurity Color Codes


  • In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
  • Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
  • Fasten shelves securely.
  • Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.
  • Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.
  • Brace overhead light fixtures.
  • Secure water heater. Strap to wall studs.
  • Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.
  • Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away from heat sources.
  • Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.
  • Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents.


Don't wait to report suspicious activity!  Contact your local law enforcement agency or your local FBI office as soon as possible.


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Homeland Security News

Partnerships & Improved Capabilities Key Five Years After 9-11

September 8, 2006—(Georgetown University, D.C.) Secretary Michael Chertoff reviewed Department efforts five years after the September 11 attacks. "Here at home, we have to continue to work to build a unified set of effective capabilities to manage the risk to the people of this country.” The key, he said, was integrating national capabilities to prevent and respond to all threats and hazards through strong partnerships across all sectors, public and private, as well as internationally.

Secretary Chertoff highlighted Department efforts and capabilities in border and cargo screening, critical infrastructure protection, information sharing, and emergency preparedness. "I hope that five years from now the only attack that people have to remember in this country remains that first attack on September 11th. And I tell you, on behalf of the people of the Department of Homeland Security, that all of us will work tirelessly every single day and night to do everything we can to try to make sure that that dream remains true."

For the complete article, click here.

Homeland Security Helpful Tips


Many of the following documents are in Adobe .PDF format and require a viewer capable of displaying .PDF files.   To download the free Adobe Reader, Click Here

How to Prepare for National Emergencies: What You Can Do

There are three initial steps that families can take: 

     1) Assemble an emergency supply kit
     2) Develop a family communication plan
     3) Learn more about the different types of emergencies you could face.

Learn more here about preparing for an emergency

 

Helpful Documents (can be either opened or downloaded to your computer)


Information Links (all will open in a new window)