United States in Lock-Down

by Liz Sidoti
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Police evacuated and guarded streets around the Statehouse and other public arenas across Ohio today in a fearful, defensive reaction to the day's wave of apparent terrorism.

"It's just sick. It just shows how vulnerable we really are," said computer technician Keith Meyers, 39, of suburban Westerville as he watched officers cordon off the downtown police headquarters.

"If it's going to happen in places like New York and Washington, D.C., it could definitely happen here," said Bob Cronin, 40, a federal probation officer.

Dozens of officers rushed to guard City Hall and the federal courthouse.

"We decided until we find out what's going on in the country with the terrorist attacks and how far spread it's going to be, to put some things on lockdown a little bit," said police Lt. Jeff Blackwell.

Major airports shut down. A caravan of emergency vehicles sped up to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, while a parade of travelers hauled their luggage away toward car rental lots nearby.

Doug Peters said he had been on board a plane about to depart for Jacksonville, Fla. He said some of his fellow passengers were already aware of a morning plane crash in New York. Then a flight attendant told them it was two planes.

"The whole mood on the airplane changed," Peters said. "There was a feeling like, 'Boy, this was no accident."'

Passengers were allowed to leave if they were frightened, and many did, said Peters, who stayed until the evacuation was ordered a few minutes later.

In downtown Cleveland, authorities evacuated the Tower City complex and the Anthony Celebreeze Federal Building. Dayton police cordoned off several blocks alongside the federal building and used unmarked vehicles to block the entrances. Parking meters were shrouded in "No Parking" signs.

Gov. Bob Taft ordered all non-essential state employees to return home, and the state canceled House and Senate sessions. House workers were told not to return to the Riffe tower, a state office building, until Thursday, said spokeswoman Jen Detweiler.

About 20 people gathered around big-screen televisions at The Home Theatre Inc., an electronics store in the City Center, a downtown Columbus shopping mall.

"You never know what is going to happen," said Heinz Peter, 57, of Kidron in northeast Ohio. "Obviously this country is so big we think it can't happen here."

Lynn Moore, 39, of Columbus said authorities and other Americans should be vigilant. He said the country is too open.

"We think that ought to start watching who we let into this country. We're just too generous," Moore said. "I think we've just become too comfortable."

Mayon Hubbard, 22, also was critical of security measures.

"It's scary what I've been watching. They cut people too much slack. All we can do is pray and hope to live another day," said Hubbard, of Columbus.

Meyers, a technician at American Electric Power, called to check in with his wife. They have two young children.

"It sure doesn't put you in a mood to work the rest of the day. It kind of makes you want to go home and spend time with your family. It puts everything in perspective," Meyers said.

"I'm very afraid," said Charlin Sims, 42, as she stood on a downtown street taking a cigarette break from her job as an administrative assistant at an appraisal company. "I don't feel safe. I didn't believe it at first when I heard it. In fact, terrorism was the last thing on my mind when I heard it. But then the second plane made it more believable. I want to hug my son."

Around her the bells at Trinity Episcopal Church chimed continuously in remembrance of those who died in the attacks, a church employee said.