Peachtree City emergency officials

want residents to prepare for a potential chemical or biological attack

the same way one would for any major disaster such as a flood or hurricane.

That's why Fire Chief Stony

Lohr is asking citizens to stock up on supplies as if they're going camping

for four days.

If a chemical or biological

attack strikes Peachtree City, and residents aren't prepared to help protect

themselves, it would put an incredible strain on the city's firefighting

and EMS corps, Lohr said.

"If personal preparedness

doesn't happen, everything else is gonna go south," Lohr said. "We

need people to help themselves and their neighbors."

In addition to food, water,

and a supply of any prescription medicine on hand, residents should also

keep a battery-powered portable radio on hand so the government has a

way to give information to the public, Lohr said. A recent snowstorm in

North Carolina, for example, lasted a week and government officials "couldn't

get information to citizens," Lohr said.

Lohr also recommends keeping

more than a half a tank of gas in their vehicles in case there is a need

to evacuate.

"They may not have time

to fill up the tank," Lohr said.

Citizens might also want to

consider adding a flashlight or cyalume nightsticks (which glow in the

dark) to their emergency preparedness kits, Lohr said. Candles are not

a good idea to provide light simply because of the danger of an open flame,

he added.

Crews are already prepared

to handle the fallout from a chemical or biological attack, Lohr said.

"There are chemicals running

through here every day on trucks and rail cars," Lohr said.

Shelters have also been identified

in case an evacuation takes place, Lohr said.

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