[KYHAM] KEN Training for Dec. 9: The Homeland Security Color Based Threat System and YOU!

[Ron Dodson]

When the Office of Homeland Security released the famed
"Color Based Threat System Scale" for Terrorism Readiness
Level, it was considered by them to be a simple way to rate
where we are in the likelihood of an attack.  Many months
have passed and a good portion of the general populace still
do not understand the why or how of this system. As
conceived, it was intended to give the general public a
ready reference on what they can expect today with regard to
an attack by "enemy" operatives, sort of like your daily
weather forecast and if you need an umbrella today or not.
The only problem is that far to many never really had anyone
explain to them just what the difference in changing Green
to Yellow or Yellow to Orange or a move to Red should mean. 
Explaining this is my objective here. 

Let's start at the lowest level, "Green"
and work to the highest levels of this chart.

GREEN - is the lowest risk level possible. This is basically
where America felt it was BEFORE and on the morning of, the
9/11
attack.  (Personally, I have my doubts that this will ever
be used again.)  Protective measures would include
vulnerability assessments, planning, training and
exercising.  

The next highest level BLUE - is used when there is a
general threat of activity occurring, but no specifics are
known or expected.  Protective measures would include all of
those from GREEN, PLUS testing of communications with
command and control, review of plans and SOP's and
increasing public information.

Now we come to the position on the scale at which we have
spent the better part of our days since Sept. 11, 2001 -
YELLOW.  In YELLOW there is an increased readiness as a more
significant threat is believed to exist though still no
specific target is known.  Protective measures would include
all of the lower levels and add increased surveillance of
critical facilities and implementation of contingency plans
and even some response plans. 

A move to ORANGE back in July led many to say, " Yeah, Now
what?!" ORANGE - is brought into play whenever the
government feels that there is a higher risk because of
intercepted communications, intelligence or timing which
appears that terrorist cells may be planning a defined
attack, the exact target of which is not yet known. 
Protective measures would include all of the previous ones
and add coordination of efforts between civil and military
security and police forces, preparation or implementation of
alternate worksites and splitting of work forces between
locations and also possibly implementation of restricted
access procedures at many locations and critical
facilities.  Impact to normal daily affairs amy be affected
anywhere from minimally to substantially based upon the
facility or infrastructure you deal with daily.  In other
words if you work in a store, restaurant or general public
type work place you may not see much difference with your
eyes. Just because you don't see an armed National Guardsman
on every corner does not mean that there has been no change
from yesterday! If you work in government, critical industry
or infrastructure, you could potentially see a major
tightening of access and target hardening efforts.  

A move to RED indicates the maximum risk and is meant to be
TARGET SPECIFIC and was not intended for use on a
nation-wide "blanket" scale at any one time. This would be,
as an example, if we knew that a specific mode of travel,
economic or civil infrastructure in a specific area was
facing a likely attack.  Protective measures would include
all of the previous ones and add; assigning response
personnel and pre-positioning of special WMD teams, closing
of government or other buildings and redirection of
transportation or critical facility resources. Impact to
normal daily affairs for the affected area(s) or target(s)
would be substantial. Such measures were not intended to be
maintained for a protracted length of time.

One more item of note here.  We all must realize that IF WE
CAN TRANSMIT A SIGNAL, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO
CAN COPY IT! Yes, special equipment such as TNC's, APRS
software etc. may be required, but if you have it, so could
a terrorist.  Always examine any traffic before airing it. 
If it is deemed to high on the security scale, use another
route even if it is a runner either on foot or by vehicle to
move the message securely!  Cell and cordless phones are
also open to reception.  No form of radio communication can
be declared 100 percent indecipherable.  It may be
difficult,
even near to impossible yes, but if your intended receiver
can copy it, so could possibly someone else.  

Likewise, our personal communications in face to face
situations. 
Remember the lady in the restaurant who overhead the remarks
made (likely in jest) by the men which resulted in a whole
highway being shut down as they were apprehended for
questioning. This is certainly an extreme, but it just
illustrates my point. You may remember an e-mail
that I sent out shortly after 9/11/2001?

Here is a quote from a portion of it...

"...I have received reports in recent days of truckers on CB
and other commercial radio freqs. talking openly about
hauling
hazardous loads, military supplies etc.  They are giving
departures from, destinations to and discussing the route to
take on the open CB Channels!  EVEN TO TELLING WHERE THEY
ARE NOW!  While I realize that most of us are not truckers,
we can take a lesson from this and maybe even help decrease
this other problem at the same time.  WE need to be more
mindful of the info we broadcast into the open airwaves and
in public places.  Regardless of whether we are just using
our radios and phones as we go about our daily jobs, working
on equipment at the EOC, eating at our favorite restaurant
or watering hole or what have you.  It does not have to be
AFTER the emergency when security needs to come first."

As amateur radio operators who assist government and
emergency agencies in disasters we should be at a state of
alert at all times, equipment wise and personally. 
Terrorism
is just a small part of the types of disasters we know that
can affect our communities.  Earthquakes, flooding,
tornadoes and hazardous materials incidents all come with
little to no warning and we should never let our guard down
as to our preparedness to place ourselves into immediate
service to alleviate suffering and hardship. Our families
need those (minimum of) 72 hour survival kits and family
emergency plans all year long. Likewise, we need to maintain
our stations to the level that major time consuming changes
would NOT have to be made before we could step up to the
plate and support our served agencies. 

If no disaster comes and we are never needed, 
have we really lost anything by being prepared?