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Emergency Ops Centers Open For 9/11 Anniversary

Pennsylvania emergency officials are readying themselves for the 10th anniversary of the September 11thattacks this Sunday and whatever security threats that may bring. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) says the statewide E-O-C will keep crucial emergency personnel from various state departments on duty this weekend. The center nearest to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County will also remain activated through Sunday. PEMA spokesman Cory Angell said preparations are being made for a variety of potential threats.

"We are ramping our level of readiness and our emergency operation centers," said Angell. "We have been working and coordinating with a lot of different agencies, both state and federal. We feel confident that we're able to prepare or we are prepared for any eventuality that might come our way."

He said PEMA is coordinating with federal and local officials, but residents should still report anything that looks suspicious to local law enforcement or state police. "The one biggest threat is always the lone wolf, the person that you can't collect intelligence on," said Angell. "It'd be somebody who might be operating alone or they might not have telegraphed their intent of planning an attack."

Angell says PEMA considers all major events when planning emergency activation levels including Saturday's football game at Penn State against Alabama, which is expected to draw a crowd of nearly 100,000.