"Be alert, not alarmed," Easley said. "Take the standard safety precautions you would during any busy holiday weekend, but let law enforcement officers know if you see anything suspicious."

Following a conference call with federal officials today, Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Bryan Beatty says North Carolinians should not change their Memorial Day holiday or summer travel plans because of Wednesday's terror warning.

"There are no specific threats to the state of North Carolina or any facilities or events located here," said Beatty, who is North Carolina's homeland security director. "North Carolinians should have their family emergency plan in place and their emergency supply kits ready just as they do for hurricane season."

North Carolina's homeland security brochure is available on the Internet at www.nccrimecontrol.org. The brochure explains steps people can take at each threat level to be more prepared in their home, business or at school. It also describes how to put together an emergency supply kit and what items should be included in it.

Preparations in the state for terrorism began before September 2001, but since then, activities related to first responder planning, equipment acquisition, training and exercises have escalated. Also, law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local level continuously share intelligence and information in an effort to prevent terrorist activity.

North Carolina established the nation's first statewide biological agent registry to track materials that could be used in terrorist activities, such as the anthrax attacks in fall 2001. North Carolina was the first state to begin an anti-terrorism training program for its state and local law enforcement officers.

Other preparedness activities include the development of public health surveillance teams, urban search and rescue teams, medical assistance teams, building advanced laboratories for testing of biological or other threats to both the human and animal populations, and increasing the state's hazardous materials response capability.

Crime Control and Public Safety is developing a statewide interoperable voice communication system so that law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics can communicate with each other on the same radio frequencies.

The State Emergency Response Commission has selected the development of interoperable voice communications systems for first responders as a priority for the 2004 U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funds. Since 2002, North Carolina has received more than $112 million in federal funds for emergency responders to buy equipment and pay for training and exercises.