Bill Frist

About the author: Bill Frist is a Republican senator from Tennessee. He is the Senate's only practicing physician and is a former transplant surgeon. He has also written more than one hundred articles and several books. He is a ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety.

The World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and the anthraxcontaining letters of fall 2001 disturbed families throughout the United States, creating feelings of anxiety and helplessness. Families can take important steps to prepare for bioterrorist attacks, however. They can be observant when in public places and provide clear reports of unusual activity to authorities. They can also make plans for communication, evacuation, and preparedness at home that would be useful in the case of any kind of disaster. These plans include preparing a disaster supply kit.

Americans...