By Veronica Torrejon, The Associated Press
Los Angeles (AP) -- Californians said they would stay cautious but calm in the face of new information indicating that terrorists are planning an attack on America.
Veteran Jim Evans said he wouldn’t change his plans to attend the World War II memorial dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., even though Saturday’s event was among those cited as potential targets.
“It concerns me, but you can’t live your life in fear. You have to go about your business,” said Evans, 80, of San Marcos, Calif., who served in the Marine Corps during World War II.
“It’s just like telling me it’s going to rain,” he said. “What are you going to do about it?”
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said new information indicates terrorists are planning an attack, possibly connected to high-profile upcoming events such as the dedication of a World War II monument, economic summit and political conventions.
The intelligence does not include a specific time, place or method of attack, officials said.
Despite the warning, it was business as usual at Disneyland, which has been cited in the past as a possible target for terrorists.
Security measures there were reinforced after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the discovery of al-Qaida documents that listed the theme park as a potential target.
“Everybody just needs to be observant, keep a certain awareness,” Kevin Reeves, 40, a construction superintendent from Phoenix, said as he entered the park with his wife and two children. “The government is doing a very good job.”
However his wife, Karen Reeves, 36, said she might consider canceling a business trip to New York next month if the nation’s threat warning is elevated.
Her husband shook his head.
“That just feeds into it,” he said.
Ryan Williams, 21, of Eugene, Ore., was waiting outside a nearby hotel before heading to the park.
“I don’t really think about it too much,” the college student said of the warning. “I would think twice about going to the Olympics this summer, but that’s about it.”
Williams had no qualms about traveling inside the United States.
“I think we’ve got a good security system set up,” he said. “I definitely feel a lot safer here than anywhere else in the world, because we have a president who’s set on protecting us from terrorists.”
Los Angeles police held a news conference late Tuesday to reassure the public.
“We would be foolhardy to ignore those statements, but I think it would be irresponsible to panic,” said John Miller, head of the LAPD counterterrorism bureau.
Ridge, interviewed on NBC’s “Today” show, said there were no current plans to lift the national alert status from yellow, where it has stood since January. That’s the midlevel alert level on a five-step warning program.
Evans said he doesn’t put much faith in the program.
“The alert system is a waste of time,” he said. “People are coming across our borders by the millions. I guess you can get pretty fatalistic about it.”
Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Yolanda Clark said the agency will remind travelers to be on the alert for suspicious behavior or unattended packages.
The TSA is holding press events in 43 cities this week to reinforce that message and to reemphasize ways to expedite airport security screening.
“We’re encouraging passengers, in light of the latest development, to be vigilant of their surroundings,” Clark said.
Special security attention already is being focused to the nation’s rail, subway and bus lines.
-- Associated Press writers Ben Fox and Greg Risling contributed to this report.