[NevadaARES] Alert Status Codes

[Paul Cavnar]

Homeland Security Color Coded System and its Meaning=20
Gov. Ridge Announces Homeland Security Advisory System=20

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.=20

As part of a series of initiatives to improve coordination and communicatio=
n 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.=20

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:=20

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.=20

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:=20

Is the threat credible?=20
Is the threat corroborated?=20
Is the threat specific and/or imminent?=20
How grave is the threat?=20
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 expeditiousl=
y. 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.=20

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:=20

Low Condition
Green
Low risk of terrorist attacks. The following Protective Measures may be =
applied:=20

Refining and exercising preplanned Protective Measures=20
Ensuring personnel receive training on HSAS, departmental, or agency-specif=
ic Protective Measures; and=20
Regularly assessing facilities for vulnerabilities and taking measures to =
reduce them.=20

Guarded Condition=20
Blue
General risk of terrorist attack. In addition to the previously outlined =
Protective Measures, the following may be applied:=20

Checking communications with designated emergency response or command =
locations;=20
Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and=20
Providing the public with necessary information.=20

Elevated Condition
Yellow
Significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the previously =
outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:=20

Increasing surveillance of critical locations;=20
Coordinating emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions;=20
Assessing further refinement of Protective Measures within the context of =
the current threat information; and=20
Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.=20

High Condition
Orange=20
High risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the previously outlined =
Protective Measures, the following may be applied:=20

Coordinating necessary security efforts with armed forces or law enforcemen=
t agencies;=20
Taking additional precaution at public events;=20
Preparing to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed workforce; and =
Restricting access to essential personnel only.=20

Severe Condition
Red
Severe risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the previously outlined =
Protective Measures, the following may be applied:=20

Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning specially =
trained teams; Monitoring, redirecting or constraining transportation =
systems;=20
Closing public and government facilities; and=20
Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency =
needs.=20

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