Ridge to raise Terror Alert, news conf. 1:30 pm Eastern

Fox News-TV

[hoosierham]

Because it is a goofy system that conveys very little real information : it is like someone yelling "LOOK OUT" but not telling you WHAT to look out for!

Well, I guess they CAN'T be unPC enough to mention the most likely suspects.

My work receives those homeland defense notices and they are so vague that weather forecasters appear precise by comparison.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

"How many of these terrorist attacks have been perpetrated by illegals from south of the border... "

The fact is that there are a lot of middle easterners sneaking into the country through the southern border because its such an easy way in.

Should we stand at the border and say..... OK Mexican illegals are "legal", but others are "illegal"...... I don't know about you, but in my book ILLEGAL means ILLEGAL no matter who is doing it!

[mylife]

without ANY specifics at all,

The specifics are the mega increase in communications amongst the terrorist.Al Zawahir's announcement, and a dozen other events. there is plenty of reason to raise our awareness.

[mathluv]

I like War Stories.

[Catspaw]

In my family, it would make you a "gun whacko". Not joking.

Not in our family--and I'm not joking. But remember, we're from Wisconsin, where, except for the larger cities of Milwaukee and mushy-headed Madison, it's rural or near rural. Hunting is a long tradition in our family, on both sides, going back generations. When my daughter moved to New Jersey, she couldn't figure out what was wrong with the tree huggers trying to save the deer (she once suggested at a town meeting that instead of a deer hunt, they reintroduce wolf and cougar into the area to thin the deer herd) when her area was overrun with deer.

Hunting is hugely popular here. At late season Packers games, you'd swear the Packers changed their colors from green & gold to blaze orange, if you go by the wearing apparel of the attending crowd.

Anyway, I know they'll love the hunting caps.

[Cultural Jihad]

It's strange how yesterday you didn't object to a cop shooting an unarmed American citizen in the back of the head...

Show me where I ever expressed any such sentiment. You won't be able to.

[John H K]

Frankly people can't really identify "middle easterners" as easily as they think they can, especially if they don't cooperate by wearing a thick beard and an Arab robe or something. Half the people people would call Middle Easterners are East Indians which are 3000 miles from the "Middle East." Heck, Saddam Hussein cleaned up and in a suit could be Greek, Italian, Spanish, etc.

And AQ has Indonesian, Malaysian members anyway.

[firebrand]

Since capturing Saddam means that we're all a lot safer now, why are we raising the threat level?

Hi, Howard.

[oceanview]

I know, but that was the "rumor", that it was a bomber at a mall.

[mylife]

Is this the ONLY reason it was elevated or just special caution to these folks?

Just a specialised warning to folks in the trucking industry in that area.

[gitmo]

Shelter-in-Place in an Emergency

What Shelter-in-Place Means:

One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place, follow the instructions provided in this Fact Sheet.

Why You Might Need to Shelter-in-Place:

Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should this occur, information will be provided by local authorities on television and radio stations on how to protect you and your family. Because information will most likely be provided on television and radio, it is important to keep a TV or radio on, even during the workday. The important thing is for you to follow instructions of local authorities and know what to do if they advise you to shelter-in-place.

How to Shelter-in-Place

At Home:

Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
Close the fireplace damper.
Get your family disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.
Go to an interior room without windows that's above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.
It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.
Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

At Work:

Close the business.
If there are customers, clients, or visitors in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay – not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are, and not drive or walk outdoors.
Unless there is an imminent threat, ask employees, customers, clients, and visitors to call their emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe.
Turn on call-forwarding or alternative telephone answering systems or services. If the business has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the business is closed, and that staff and visitors are remaining in the building until authorities advise it is safe to leave.
Close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside.
If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
Have employees familiar with your building’s mechanical systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with outside air – these systems, in particular, need to be turned off, sealed, or disabled. Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting, and plastic garbage bags.
Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Large storage closets, utility rooms, pantries, copy and conference rooms without exterior windows will work well. Avoid selecting a room with mechanical equipment like ventilation blowers or pipes, because this equipment may not be able to be sealed from the outdoors.
It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door(s) and any vents into the room.
Bring everyone into the room(s). Shut and lock the door(s).
Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your business’ designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you, and their affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, client, customer.) Keep listening to the radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Ridge to raise Terror Alert

[Catspaw]

It has to be Iran or Pakistan.

My guess is Pakistan....but he's got to be moving around.

I didn't see the full text of Zawahiri's latest rant, but like Bin Laden's rants, my guess is that he's encoding messages to the minions.

[Letitring]

If your work puts you in key positions, during terror alerts, I sincerely hope your employer is aware of your attitude and beliefs.

I would like to think, all citizens, in the employ of agencies the American public must depend upon for vigilance, security, watchfulness, observation, and judgment, take their duties seriously.

[TomGuy]

Dallas Cowboys are terrorizing the NY Giants --- 10-3

[Miss Marple]

You are quite right...I was simply trying to make a point. One should keep in mind that there are all sorts of people involved with AQ, including Black Muslims and suburban types such as Johnny Jihad from California. ANY suspiocious activity should be reported.

People should think of some of the Tom Clancy scenarios and be alert.

[RobFromGa]

Thanks for your comments, now that reinforcements have arrived, I'm off now to join a large group of people in public and watch a basketball game. And I'm not afraid even though one of our best players is named Muhammed.

Sincerely,
"Jackboot licking toady" Rob

[nmh]

Re read my response.

"This is only the fourth time that we have been elevated to orange since September 11. FOUR times in two years is not excessive, in my opinion."

I never said it was excessive. What I am interested in is WHY they elevated it. Something specific inspired this. What is it? Trucks, planes, what?

I think it goes without saying that responsible people are vigilent regardless of the terror alert but when it is elevated I believe taxpayers, who pay their salaries have a right to know what is going on. Keeping people in the dark is silly.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Cut back on the coffee. It's making you hysterical.

I just visited the Red Cro$$ site. It doesn't tell me ANYTHING to DO about COFFEE!!! Thanks for pointing out this major oversight. I'm logging off to stock up on the java.

[WackyKat]

I don't know about you but I am weary of these nebulous alerts. It's hard to take these elevated alerts seriously. WHY can't people who PAY the salaries of these security folks know WHAT is going on?

The purpose of the alerts is mainly bureaucratic CYA.

If something does happen, they can say "We warned you!"

Never mind the warning was essentially meaningless because of its total lack of specificity.

The one possible real benefit is that it raises peoples awareness of a threat, so they may be more aware of some unusual activity that they see and may be more likely to report it