US Homeland Security Advisory System

The Department of Homeland Security in the United States, created after the September 11 attacks, has formulated a system of color-coded rankings to warn American citizens of terrorist threats. Homeland Security Presidential Directive-3, issued by President Bush in March 2002, created a five-tier advisory system relating to terrorist threat assessment. The five-level warning system is designed to provide guidance to law enforcement agencies, citizens, and the private sector.

According to the directive, the following questions will be asked when making a decision about which threat condition to issue:

1. To what degree is the threat information credible?
2. To what degree is the threat information corroborated?
3. To what degree is the threat specific and/or imminent?
4. How grave are the potential consequences of the threat?

1. Low Condition (Green). Green indicates a low risk of terrorist attacks. Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures:

• Refining and exercising preplanned Protective Measures
• Ensuring personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security Advisory System and specific preplanned department or agency Protective Measures
• Institutionalizing a method to ensure that all facilities and regulated sectors are regularly assessed for vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks

2. Guarded Condition (Blue). Blue indicates there is a general risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the protective measures in the green threat condition, government bodies should consider the following general measures:

• Checking communications with designated emergency response or command locations
• Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures
• Providing the public with any information that would strengthen their ability to act appropriately

3. Elevated Condition (Yellow). An Elevated Condition indicates a significant risk of terrorist attack. In addition to the previous precautionary measures, federal agencies should:

• Increase surveillance of critical locations
• Coordinate emergency plans with appropriate jurisdictions
• Assess whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned protective peasures
• Implement contingency and emergency response plans

4. High Condition (Orange). A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the previous measures, federal agencies should:

• Coordinate necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations
• Take additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation
• Prepare to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce
• Restrict threatened facility access to essential personnel only

5. Severe Condition (Red). A Severe Condition reflects a severe risk of terrorist attacks. Under most circumstances, the Protective Measures for a Severe Condition are not intended to be sustained for substantial periods of time. In addition to the previous protective measures, federal agencies should:

• Increase or redirect personnel to address critical emergency needs
• Assign emergency response personnel and pre-positioning and mobilizing specially trained teams or resources
• Monitor, redirect, or constrain transportation systems; and closing public and government facilities.

Response Capabilities

Federal agencies have differing capability levels of responding to national threats caused by natural catastrophes or weapons of mass destruction. The four capability levels are:

Level One (Baseline Capability Level) This category is described as the basic level of equipment and operational capabilities that jurisdictions require to conduct certain defensive operations to perform in a contaminated environment. This can be generally defined as a Basic HazMat Equipment Capability Level. Emergency response should know when to take self-protective measures and when to take steps to protect the general population from further contamination. The ability to make on-scene assessments and call for mutual aid, as needed, is also consistent with the requirements at this level.

Level Two (Hazardous Materials Operations Capability Level) In addition to meeting the requirements set forth in Level One, Level two requires the emergency response to meet a hazardous materials equipment capability need and to have the requisite personnel trained and certified in accordance with OSHA. This can be generally defined as a Modest Increase in Hazmat Equipment Capability Level.

Level Three (Technicians Capability Level) Emergency responders will have the necessary equipment and have advanced knowledge of operations to carry out personal protective measures, initiate advanced detection and monitoring techniques, demonstrate a capability to establish mass casualty decontamination systems, provide medical triage, and set up a transport system for definitive medical care. This can be generally defined as a Moderate Increase in HazMat Equipment Capability Level.

Level Four (Advanced Operations and Technicians Capability Level) Emergency responders have met or surpassed the equipment requirements associated with the capabilities found in Levels 1-3 and will meet or surpass all emergency response equipment requirements for their jurisdiction. This can be generally defined as a High Level of HazMat Equipment Capability Level.