The following is an alert update. Some ideas from Rich Lang's alert have been included.
(Rich Lang is Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Seattle. Thanks Rich! )

The drills are scheduled to start May 1, so there is not much time.

As Rich Lang, notes, "On the one hand, these are the 'necessary and regular' drills that the military run all the time throughout the nation, testing and resourcing our national defense. On the other hand, these are also the same type of drills that were occurring on both 9/11 (in New York) and on 7/7 (in London) when the drill suddenly "went live".

We cannot stop these drills, but may help to assure that they are honest. As Rich Lang said, "The point is for we the people (citizens) to do our job as an informed citizenry. It is good for them to know that we know, that we are awake, aware and alert. "

Note that based on the available announcements, below, Washington state, King county, and Seattle officials may reasonably be contacted regarding the planned "terror drills."

Please consider emailing or calling the Washington federal/state/ King County/ Seattle city officials. Please also consider contacting the media. Bob Dennis has noted that the Seattle Times, PI, and local news stations have mentioned nothing about these exercises. Contacts as well as sample messages are listed below. The message does not need to be long or complicated. As always, please be polite.

According to the FEMA website http://www.fema.gov/about/training/ex ercises.shtm#0
(this link may not work, but the spelling is correct, so you may need to cut and paste.)

"events in the Pacific Northwest include terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the state of Washington"

According to an alert by former military personnel that is all over the internet, for example

Seattle indymedia.org

"On Thursday, May 1, the exercise begins in Washington, when an explosion collapses the Alaska Way viaduct in downtown Seattle and damages surrounding buildings. Twenty minutes later, terrorists explode a highjacked tanker ship filled with highly toxic chemicals at the Seattle Ferry Terminal. Deadly gas soon permeates downtown Seattle."

The article on these alternative websites state these "Terror Drills Could Go Live!"

short example messages: (include one or more items)

TO WASHINGTON STATE OFFICIALS

I am writing/calling to express my concern over so called "terror drills" which according to FEMA are planned in Washington State beginning May 1 by the federal government.

I want to know why these "terror" drills are necessary; they are very expensive and are themselves potentially dangerous; and just keep people fearful.
Sometimes these terror "drills" have gone live, as did the drills in New York on 9/11/01 and London on 7/7/05.
From the alternative media I have been informed that those drills are scheduled for Seattle; is that true?
if you don't know, can you please find out?
I want to know which Washington city or state officials are overseeing these drills. The federal government should not conduct these drills without oversight.
If the drills are in fact planned for Seattle, I want to know why I had to learn about it from alternative media.
Did the State of Washington know of the planned drills, and if so, why were the plans not announced to the public? If they did not know, why not?
I am concerned that these drills may interfere with public rallies that are planned on May 1
I would like a response to my questions, in writing

To King County and Seattle officials

I am writing/calling to express my concern over so called "terror drills" which according to FEMA are planned in Washington State beginning May 1 by the federal government.

From the alternative media I have been informed that those drills are scheduled for Seattle; is that true?
if you dont know, can you please find out ?
If the City of Seattle/King County knew about these drills, why were the plans not announced to the public?
I want to know why these "terror" drills are necessary; they are very expensive and are themselves potentially dangerous; and just keep people fearful.
Sometimes these terror "drills" have gone live, as did the drills in New York on 9/11/2001 and London on 7/7./2005
I want to know which city, county, or state officials are overseeing these drills. The federal government should not conduct these drills without oversight.
If the drills are in fact planned for Seattle, I want to know why I had to learn about it from alternative media.
I am concerned that these drills will interfere with public rallies that are planned on May 1.
I would like a response to my questions, in writing

Some sample Seattle messages from Rich Lang:

" Hi I'm …,
I was just wondering what you could tell me about the Ardent Sentry terrorist exercises taking place in Seattle later this week (May 1-8)? Will it impact traffic? Are they going to close the viaduct?"

Or
" Hi, I was just wondering what you could tell me about the Ardent Sentry exercises in Seattle this week? Has the Mayor been informed? Is he going to address the public about the exercises? "

Or,
" Hi etc etc … could you tell me what the Continuity of Operations is? Rep. Peter de Fazio tried to find out but was stonewalled and refused that information last year. Living in a democracy gives us the right to know that information.

PLEASE keep the following contact information for future reference