Gov.
Ridge Announces Homeland Security Advisory System
The Homeland Security Advisory System will provide a
comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information
regarding the risk of terrorist attacks to Federal, State, and
local authorities and to the American people.
As part of a series of initiatives to improve coordination
and communication among all levels of government and the
American public in the fight against terrorism, President Bush
signed Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3, creating the
Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). The advisory system
will be the foundation for building a comprehensive and
effective communications structure for the dissemination of
information regarding the risk of terrorist attacks to all
levels of government and the American people.
The Attorney General will be responsible for developing,
implementing and managing the system. In conjunction with the
development of this new system, the Attorney General will open a
45-day comment period in order to seek the views of officials at
all levels of government, law enforcement and the American
public. Ninety days after the conclusion of the comment period,
the Attorney General in coordination with the Director of the
Office of Homeland Security -- will present a final Homeland
Security Advisory System to the President for approval. The
Homeland Security Advisory System will provide the following:
National framework for Federal, State, and local
governments, private industry and the public. There are
many federal alert systems in our country -- each tailored and
unique to different sectors of our society: transportation ,
defense, agriculture, and weather, for example. These alert
systems fill vital and specific requirements for a variety of
situations in both the commercial and government sectors. The
Homeland Security Advisory System will provide a national
framework for these systems, allowing government officials and
citizens to communicate the nature and degree of terrorist
threats. This advisory system characterizes appropriate levels
of vigilance, preparedness and readiness in a series of
graduated Threat Conditions. The Protective Measures that
correspond to each Threat Condition will help the government and
citizens decide what action they take to help counter and
respond to terrorist activity. Based on the threat level,
Federal agencies will implement appropriate Protective Measures.
States and localities will be encouraged to adopt compatible
systems.
Factors for assignment of Threat Conditions.
The Homeland Security Advisory System will provide a framework
for the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of
the Office of Homeland Security, to assign Threat Conditions,
which can apply nationally, regionally, by sector or to a
potential target. Cabinet Secretaries and other members of the
Homeland Security Council will be consulted as appropriate. A
variety of factors may be used to assess the threat. Among
these:
- Is the threat credible?
- Is the threat corroborated?
- Is the threat specific and/or imminent?
- How grave is the threat?
Unified system for public announcements. Public
announcements of threat advisories and alerts help deter
terrorist activity, notify law enforcement and State and local
government officials of threats, inform the public about
government preparations, and provide them with the information
necessary to respond to the threat. State and local officials
will be informed in advance of national threat advisories when
possible. The Attorney General will develop a system for
conveying relevant information to Federal, State, and local
officials, and the private sector expeditiously. Heightened
Threat Conditions can be declared for the entire nation, or for
a specific geographic area, functional or industrial sector.
Changes in assigned Threat Conditions will be made when
necessary.
A tool to combat terrorism. Threat Conditions
characterize the risk of terrorist attack. Protective Measures
are the steps that will be taken by government and the private
sector to reduce vulnerabilities. The HSAS establishes five
Threat Conditions with associated suggested Protective Measures:
Low Condition
Green
Low risk of terrorist attacks. The following Protective
Measures may be applied:
- Refining and exercising preplanned Protective Measures
- Ensuring personnel receive training on HSAS, departmental,
or agency-specific Protective Measures; and
- Regularly assessing facilities for vulnerabilities and
taking measures to reduce them.
Guarded Condition
Blue
General risk of terrorist attack. In addition to the
previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be
applied:
- Checking communications with designated emergency response
or command locations;
- Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and
- Providing the public with necessary information.
Elevated Condition
Yellow
Significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the
previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be
applied:
- Increasing surveillance of critical locations;
- Coordinating emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions;
- Assessing further refinement of Protective Measures within
the context of the current threat information; and
- Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency
response plans.
High Condition
Orange
High risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the previously
outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:
- Coordinating necessary security efforts with armed forces
or law enforcement agencies;
- Taking additional precaution at public events;
- Preparing to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed
workforce; and Restricting access to essential personnel
only.
Severe Condition
Red
Severe risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the
previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be
applied:
- Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning
specially trained teams; Monitoring, redirecting or
constraining transportation systems;
- Closing public and government facilities; and
- Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical
emergency needs.
|