Nations Top Counterterrroism Expert Recalls A Similar Hostage Experience In The Wake of Bloody Russian Grade School Hostage Drama - Elsa Lee Warns School Officials and Parents to dont get caught with your pants down."

Counterterrorism Expert Elsa Lee Warns Parents and School Officials In America to have and update emergency plans in the aftermath of the Russian school terrorist tragedy.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 4, 2004 -- It could happen at any elementary school here in America," warns Counterterrorism Expert Elsa Lee, CEO, Advantage SCI, El Segundo, CA. Lee is referring to the bloody hostage drama in Beslan, Russia, where scores of bodies were found today (Friday) in a Russian school gymnasium as a three-day showdown between Russian security forces and suspected Chechen militants erupted in a bloody climax.

Reporters at the scene said they witnessed about 100 corpses in the burned-out school gym where hundreds of students, teachers and parents were held hostage for two days in a southern Russian school. Russian troops stormed the building as terrorists opened fire.

After hearing about the terrorist school takeover and how children, parents and teachers were herded into the school as they gathered for a ceremony marking the first day of class and the attackers issuing demands to Russian authorities while threatening to kill the children, Lee recalled her first similar experience.

In 1984, while assigned to an international terrorism task force investigating attacks against the US military in Europe -- at the same time, I was the parent of a, then four-year old kindergartener attending an American school where a bomb threat had been called, presumably by a terrorist," she said. The school immediately implemented evacuation and terrorism response efforts. Through public announcements, they gave parents specific instructions on where to pick up children."

But Lee also noted that several parents, immediately upon hearing the breaking news of the incident, drove into the school lot in a state of panic.

They ignored the school principals request to not drive to the school lot," lee explained. This created gridlock. Pandemonium broke out and hindered the bomb squad and first responders. Fortunately, when it was over no bombs were found. Whether it was a hoax or a viable terrorist warning, it was never fully determined, but had an actual bomb detonated -- things that went wrong wouldve contributed to a catastrophic outcome."

Elsa Lee's best advice regarding school threats and terrorism preparedness, "don't get caught with your pants down!" People don't seem to respond to typical warnings like "don't let your guard down" "prepare a terrorism response plan and rehearse it."

She noted that people still dont understand the seriousness of today's threats. "Don't get caught with your pants down is what my mom used to say when unexpected company arrived at a moments notice, when she wasn't ready to receive guests. Always keep your house in order or you will get caught off guard when you least expect it - she would say about unexpected company."

Lee believes that this newest hostage drama will resonate with some sense of urgency and meaning. Maybe schools have a plan, and maybe it needs an enhancement, she said. But for those who dont have a plan, its' time to act on the realities of today's threats and put measures in place. They dictate that we act differently, think differently, and expect the unexpected as part of our every day life."

For example, Lee asks what will a schools plan call for parents to do if a terrorist incident like Beslan, Russia broke out in their community today? What have parents discussed with children regarding potential school threats? What type of terrorism response plan have parents seen implemented by schools and has it been clearly communicated to all role players?"

You should have your own 'early warning system and emergency plans, because the government may not always be there to warn you on time," said Lee. Whether it's a terrorist attack, a copycat mimicking a terrorist, or a school disruption - preparedness and response efforts between school officials, parents, first responders, and children is critical."

Amid a series of explosions, gunfire and screams of fleeing children, commandos stormed the building today (Friday), where militants strapped with bombs had held hundreds of captives since Wednesday. Dozens of people were killed, most of them children, and more than 400 were wounded, reports said.

The events are changing by the minute, so people should increase their awareness and if they see anything suspicious know exactly where theyre going to report it," said Lee, CEO and Founder of Advantage SCI (www.advantagesci.com), El Segundo, CA, which provides security consulting, training, and e-learning to protect people and corporate assets from sabotage, espionage, cyber attacks, and terrorism.

For more information about Elsa Lee and first time responder information visit Advantage SCI website at: www.advantagesci.com or visit: www.MayoCommunications.com and click on Elsa Lees photo and bio.

Contact George McQuade, 818.618.9229.
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