Following the November terror attacks in Paris, the U-S State Department issued a worldwide travel warning to all U-S citizens. Now with the recent massacre in San Bernardino, the U.S. government is putting an even greater focus on national security and keeping travelers safe while visiting friends and loved ones during the busy holiday travel season. Ellen Scott has more from Washington.
IN: "The deadly attack
OUT: SOC
DUR: TBD
SCRIPT:
The deadly attack in San Bernardino that left 14 dead is still fresh in the minds of Americans. Passenger Susan Cottle was traveling through Washington Balitmore International Airport and had this to say...
Susan Cottle Madden, Traveler SOT: "I've come to believe no one is safe on this Earth anywhere. I think we have to take to care, but we can't stop what we are doing."
But the holiday travel season must go on.
The Transportation Security Administration is planning thorough security screenings and fully staffed check points at all U-S airports.
Many holiday travelers are not frequent flyers, so with the heightened security, TSA is urging passengers to plan extra time into their trips... And warning them NOT to bring their water bottles. The Transportation Security Administration Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein explains why.
Lisa Farbstein SOT: "It's very easy for someone to disguise a bottle of water that could really be some liquid explosives."
In the wake of the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, all Americans traveling have been urged to exercise vigilance. But despite the increased terror threat, the travel continues...including for traverler Gregory Madden.
Gregory Madden SOT: "I trust that there is a lot of security at the airports now and especially in the United States airports…but we are traveling internationally, we are going through New York to Barcelona and I feel pretty comfortable about that"
In the coming weeks, the T-S-A is even stepping up security measures with their own employees. Lisa Farbstein of the TSA said
Lisa Farbstein: "There are thousands of people who work at airports and we are doing significantly more random checks of those employees as they are moving from one point of the airport to the other."
The TSA is predicting that this is going to be the busiest travel season in history. While there is no credible threat against the US at this time, the State Department has issued a travel alert through Feb. 24th. Ellen Scott