Disaster Preparedness, Alert Levels

Man-Made Disasters - Alert Levels

	Terrorist Warnings and Advisories In the months following 9/11, the White House released a new directive that identified threat levels. This system is color-coded. It will aid local agencies, and the public, in determining what the appropriate response should be. Descriptions Below:
	Low Threat: Guarded Threat: Elevated Threat: High Threat: Severe Threat:	Green Blue Yellow Orange Red

	Low Condition (Green) This condition is declared when there is a low risk of terrorist attacks. Public safety agencies should consider the following measures:
		Refining and exercising as appropriate preplanned protective measures;

		Ensuring personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security Advisory
		System and specific preplanned department or agency protective measures;
		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, public safety agencies should consider:
		Checking communications with designated emergency response or command
		locations;
		Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures;

		Providing the public with any information that would strengthen its ability
		to act appropriately
	Elevated Condition (Yellow) This condition is declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the protective measures taken in the previous threat conditions, public safety agencies should consider:
		Increasing surveillance of critical locations; coordinating emergency nearby
		jurisdictions; plans as appropriate with
		Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require further
		refinement of preplanned protective measures;
		Implementing, as appropriate, contingency, and emergency response plans.
	High Condition (Orange) This condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the protective measures taken in the previous threat conditions, public safety agencies should consider:
		Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law
		enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations;
		Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering
		alternative venues or even cancellation;

		Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate
		site or dispersing their workforce; and

		Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

	Severe Condition (Red) This 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, public safety agencies should consider:
		Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs;

		Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning and mobilizing
		specially trained teams or resources;

		Monitoring, redirecting, or constraining transportation systems; and

		Closing public and government facilities.