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Manhattan Store Offers Terror Attack Supplies



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My personal initiative only,



Bjorn Cedervall   bcradsafers@hotmail.com

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021017/ap_on_re_us/terror_shopping_5



Store Offers Terror Attack Supplies

Thu Oct 17,11:22 AM ET

By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer



NEW YORK (AP) - Biohazard suit? Check. Potassium iodide pills? Check. 

Parachute for jumping from a burning high-rise building? Check.



A new store called Safer America opened Thursday a few blocks from the World 

Trade Center with shelves filled with emergency-preparedness gear, from 

radiation detectors and to survival kits.



The idea originated with co-founder Frederic Samama, who wanted to purchase 

a gas mask last spring to keep at his Manhattan apartment.



"I couldn't find a reliable source — it's good to speak to someone, to ask 

how it works and to get training," said Samama, who left his job as a bond 

trader to start the store with Harvey Kushner, a renowned terrorism expert.



Many Americans bought masks — as well as water purifiers, antibiotics and 

survival manuals — after the terrorist attack on the trade center towers 

last year. One major Texas distributor of military surplus items reported 

sales of 39,000 masks in the month after the attack, compared with 250 

during the same period the year before.



Samama and Kushner say they plan to open two additional Manhattan stores and 

hope to keep adding inventory.



Elin Gursky, a senior fellow for biodefense programs and public health at 

the Anser Institute for Homeland Security in Arlington, Va., said many 

survival supplies are more empowering than practical.



"It's been a very scary past year and people are looking for ways to feel 

safe," Gursky said. "But I don't think this is a climate where people should 

be panicking to go out and purchase these items just because the stores 

decide there's a market to sell them."



Safe America: http://www.saferamerica.com





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