Iowa officials are trying to calm fears and reassure Iowans after this morning’s apparent terrorist acts on the East Coast. Iowa’s government has a variety of plans in place to combat any sort of terrorist act. Emergency Management spokeswoman Lucinda Parker says Iowa is at the ready.The chief concern in Iowa has been bioterrorism — some sort attack on the state’s crops or livestock. Parker says state government is prepared for any emergency situation.Parker says the state’s emergency management division is monitoring the situations in Washington D-C and New York very carefully. She says her office is -quote- certainly on heightened awareness.Governor Tom Vilsack said this morning that state officials met upon learning of the destruction in New York and Washington. He says the state patrol’s recommended heightened security in public buildings, which is being done, and he hasn’t talked with federal officials. Governor Tom Vilsack said the state is offering all possible support to the states hit by the morning’s destructive attacks.New York, Virginia, other affected states are being offered aid. He says Iowans can continue to monitor the situation and pray. Vilsack said the state’s taking defensive measures of its ownAfter a conference call with people in state government, a message was sent to state workers asking them to be calm, erport any suspicious activity and relax rules on tuning in news so they can keep up with the situation from news reports. Vilsack said Iowa officials will keep in touch and take any actions that seem needed as the day goes by.
