Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge rolled out a national readiness campaign Wednesday in Cincinnati and asked for our help. Terrorists' chief weapon is fear.

He is right that prepared citizens and a trained corps of emergency response professionals are key defenses against terrorism. Unfortunately promised federal funds to help pay for that preparation and training have been slow to reach the cities.

That point was driven home after Ridge's speech at the American Red Cross headquarters downtown, when Cincinnati Fire Chief Robert Wright asked the Secretary and Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, to speed the flow of federal funds for equipment and training. Congress should swiftly equip firefighters as the "first line of defense" with protective suits and other needed gear.

Portman pledged Congress would deliver the funds with flexibility to meet each region's needs.

The readiness campaign recognizes that the federal government alone can't build a more prepared nation. "You can't secure the homeland from Washington, D.C.," Ridge told some of this region's top emergency officials and volunteers.

Citizens can help in a terror attack by being able to look out for themselves, not panicking and not overwhelming emergency crews. That's why Ridge wants Americans to take three simple actions: Make an emergency kit, make a family communication plan and get informed. Donated TV, radio, newspaper and billboard ads will be reinforcing the message, with a new Web site www.ready.gov and an 800-number: 1-800-BE-READY.

Much of the advice isn't obvious: The basement isn't the best safe room since many toxins are heavier than air. Cincinnati Red Cross's Web site also is helpful with such things as a family phone call system.

Ridge said most of us may never be subjected to a terror attack, but as New York firefighter Roger Kilfoil warns in one of the program's TV ads: "America's the target - not just New York."

This isn't a feel-good campaign to make us feel needed. Advertising Council CEO Peggy Conlon likened it to important past wartime messages such as "Loose lips sink ships."

Osama bin Laden's latest audiotaped threat again assumed that Americans are quaking in fear.

Ridge's national campaign is a needed call to arms: "Americans aren't afraid, and we will be ready."