Preparedness campaign hits the Web

The Homeland Security Department has launched a site at Ready.gov to augment its national publicity campaign for terrorism preparedness, which secretary Tom Ridge will unveil today.

The site gives instructions for preparing emergency kits of food, water, first-aid materials and other supplies. It promotes family communications plans and gives information about various types of terrorist threats.

Ready.gov will form part of a large public preparedness campaign, which the department has planned with help from the Advertising Council. Ridge will launch the TV and outdoor advertising campaign today in Cincinnati.

The campaign, called "Arm Yourself with Information," also will use cable channels, yellow pages and the Postal Service to spread its message to citizens.