and please understand, i LIVE in NYC. so obviously the thought of the entire city being blown to smithereens is very disturbing and scary to me and it's human nature to try to look at things and find reasons in your head why it might NOT be a go signal, the map, etc. please understand that.
I understand completely. We just can't rule anything out especially in light of the recent alert from Homeland Security. We know they want to hit us. The big questions are where, when and how. We're just trying to stay one step ahead of them.
No worries Hotrod, I am near NYC too (stones throw). I am just as scared. My biggest fear is not being able to get to my child who goes to school 40 minutes from where I work. So I put plans in place for others to get him. He knows the password to go with them. On high alert days (days we talk about here on TM) I plan to work from home on those days. If something happens, I am close to him. (2 blocks) But I am aware things may happen on a day I didnt plan for, so I am prepared for that as well.
My best advice for you is to be aware of your surroundings and options. Dont be afraid to point suspicious things to police. The worst you can be is wrong, the best you can be is a hero. Plan a place to go that is farther away (like CT or Westchester). If you have relatives, get them at the first sign of trouble and plan to get out. Dont wait for an announcement to evacuate.
That's why I started on this forum: To find out what I am up against and what to be aware of. I now carry a BOB wherever I go. (People at work think I am nuts and they assigned me to the crisis management team because I was always asking the questions they didnt think of anyway).