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Know the Dangers

Homeland Security

The following information will provide you with a basic overview of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a detailed overview of the  Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) as well as online resources where you can learn more about homeland security issues.

The information in this section is divided into the following topics:

• U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS)

• Protective Measures

• Threat Condition Assignments

• Homeland Security Resources

In response to the threat of terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created in order to strengthen America's protection against further terrorist attacks. The new department's first priority is to protect the nation against further terrorist attacks. Component agencies will analyze threats and intelligence, guard our borders and airports, protect our critical infrastructure, and coordinate the response of our nation for future emergencies. 

Another mandate of DHS is to educate the public on a continuing basis on how to be prepared in case of a national emergency or possible terrorist attack. The links listed in the resource section below will point you to where more information on the Department of Homeland Security can be found.

The Homeland Security Advisory System was designed as a way to provide a means to disseminate information and warnings regarding the risk of terrorist attacks to our nation. The system provides warnings in the form of five color-coded "Threat Conditions" levels that increase as the threat risk of attack increases. 

Threat Condition Levels and Colors 

	Low Condition - Low risk of terrorist attacks.
	Guarded Condition - General risk of terrorist attacks.
	Elevated Condition - Significant risk of terrorist attacks.
	High Condition - High risk of terrorist attacks.
	Severe Condition - Severe risk of terrorist attacks.

Each Threat Condition above has its own "protective measures", or specific steps an organization or agency  takes to reduce its vulnerability or increase its ability to respond during a period of heightened alert.

This condition is declared when there is a low risk of terrorist attacks. Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures they develop and implement:

1. Refining and exercising as appropriate preplanned Protective Measures;
2. Ensuring personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security Advisory System and specific preplanned department or agency Protective Measures; and
3. Institutionalizing a process to assure that all facilities and regulated sectors are regularly assessed for vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks, and all reasonable measures are taken to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

Guarded Condition (Blue)  

This condition is declared when there is a general risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Condition, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

1. Checking communications with designated emergency response or command locations;
2. Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and
3. Providing the public with any information that would strengthen its ability to act appropriately.

An Elevated Condition is declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

1. Increasing surveillance of critical locations;
2. Coordinating emergency plans as appropriate with nearby jurisdictions;
3. Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned Protective Measures; and
4. Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.

A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

1. Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations;
2. Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;
3. Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce; and
4. Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

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 Protective Measures in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies also should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

1. Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs;
2. Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning and mobilizing specially trained teams or resources;
3. Monitoring, redirecting, or constraining transportation systems; and
4. Closing public and government facilities.

A decision on which Threat Condition to assign shall integrate a variety of considerations. This integration will rely on qualitative assessment, not quantitative calculation. Higher Threat Conditions indicate greater risk of a terrorist act, with risk including both probability and gravity. Despite best efforts, there can be no guarantee that, at any given Threat Condition, a terrorist attack will not occur. An initial and important factor is the quality of the threat information itself. The evaluation of this threat information shall include, but not be limited to, the following factors:

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?

Threat Conditions may be assigned for the entire Nation, or they may be set for a particular geographic area or industrial sector. Assigned Threat Conditions shall be reviewed at regular intervals to determine whether adjustments are warranted.

The decision whether to publicly announce Threat Conditions shall be made on a case-by-case basis by the Attorney General in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Every effort shall be made to share as much information regarding the threat as possible, consistent with the safety of the Nation.

At each threat condition, federal departments and agencies implement the corresponding set of "Protective Measures" to further reduce vulnerability or increase response capability during a period of heightened alert.

More information can be found at the resources listed below.

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• DHS Department of Homeland Security - Official website of the Department of of Homeland Security.

• Border Reorganization Fact Sheet - highlights the Department's strategic goals for integrating border, transportation, immigration, and customs departments into one single force.

• White House: America Responds - this is the official White House page for information the Bush administration policy towards terrorism. 

• US DOJ Terrorist Attack & Emergency Planning Information - this site is hosted by the department of Justice provides information.

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) -  Official website for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

• Interpol - Interpol exists to help create a safer world. Their mission is to be the world’s pre-eminent police organization in support of all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is preventing, detecting, and suppressing crime.

• US Customs - The U.S. Customs Service is uniquely positioned at the border with equipment and personnel in place to perform critical tasks as part of homeland security.

• Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) - The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), an agency of the Department of Justice, is responsible for enforcing the laws regulating the admission of foreign-born persons (i.e., aliens) to the United States and for administering various immigration benefits, including the naturalization of qualified applicants for U.S. citizenship.

• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates U.S. commercial nuclear power plants and the civilian use of nuclear materials.

• Container Security Initiative - information on the Container Security Initiative (CSI) created by the US Customs to prevent global containerized cargo from being exploited by terrorists.

• US Senate - Official website for the US Senate.

Terrorism | "WMD" | Homeland Security 

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