DHS returns to Orange Alert (High) (Operation Liberty Shield enacted)

Department of Homeland Security ^ | March 17, 2003

[Renegade]

It's my birthday, and I just returned from a weekend in Boston where 600,000 drunk ( happy) people celebrated with me .
The joke of the day was :
Do you know why it is such a beautiful day today ?
I would say , " because it is warm ,sunny and finally the snow is going away ?
They would reply, " No, because Bush is out of the country !"
They have no clue !!!

[Maeve]

An Orange Alert on St. Patrick's Day does at least match the Irish flag:

[birdwoman]

Ridge calls the govenors of all the states and tells them to have the State Troopers do something other than give out speeding tickets?? ;)

Just kidding, I love my State Troopers, Honest!

[Terry Mross]

I think a lot of this UN crap was Bush stalling until Ashcroft said, "Mr. President, we have all the cells surrounded. You can go kill Saddam now."

[Timesink]

Is NYC on Red Alert? I saw that posted on another thread.

There is no Red Alert in NYC. They were already on code orange and remain there. However, "Operation Atlas" will go into effect when the war starts.

[Timesink]

Thanks for the headline change!

[Timesink]

does anyone know of ANY change in routine at any local, state or fed goverment entity when the ThreatCon changes?

1. Low Condition (Green). 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:

• 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; and
• 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.

2. 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:

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

3. Elevated Condition (Yellow). 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:

• Increasing surveillance of critical locations;
• Coordinating emergency plans as appropriate with nearby jurisdictions;
• Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned Protective Measures; and
• Implementing, as appropriate, 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 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:

• 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.

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 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:

• 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.

[thunders]

Grrr...stupid Bostonians (no offense to any of you who may be reading this)...I go to college in Boston at a school with a lot of people from the area and have to deal with stuff like that everyday...

[Severa]

Boy this is gonna be a fun time here. *lives in the military capital of the US, about 30 min away from NAS Norfolk*

[bbbenton]

Thanks for the link to Operation Atlas. Traveling to NYC next week.

[diplomatic_immunity]

"From what I have heard, the bump UP from Orange was an error on the part of a local Fox announcer in New York."

Or more accurately, a FORMER local Fox announcer in New York. I'm sure his head his rolling down 42nd Street by now.

[Maeve]

Join the American Tourism Boycott
of
France
Canada
Mexico
Germany
Russia
and
Chile

[Oorang]

We're in for a ride. This is phase 1. N. Korea is phase 2.
Hope your flight goes well and is uneventful. I get to go hang out at the courthouse thru the rest of the month - jury duty. My brother has to fly to Washington D.C. next week for meetings, he work for DoD. Right now I wish he had a different job.

[TonyInOhio]

Wife of Freeper Hostel, USN Active Duty Submariner

Please thank him for his service in our behalf. God Bless you and your family.

Tony

[Timesink]

Bush administration officials raised the national terror alert level from yellow to orange immediately following the president's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein. (ABCNEWS.com)

Back to High Alert Terror Threat Level Raised to ‘Orange’ March 17 — The Bush administration raised the national terror alert from "elevated" to "high" immediately following the president's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein, officials said.

The final decision on raising the terror alert level to "orange" from "yellow" was made before President Bush's speech this evening and in conjunction with a seemingly imminent outbreak of war with Iraq. In a national address, Bush gave Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq and go into exile or risk a military campaign "at a time of our choosing."

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that intelligence officials believe terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against the United States and its allies in the so-called "coalition of the willing" in the wake of a U.S.-led attack against Saddam Hussein.

In a statement, Ridge said reporting from a number of sources indicated that al Qaeda operatives "probably would attempt to launch terrorist attacks against U.S. interests claiming they were defending Muslims or the 'Iraqi people' rather than Saddam Hussein's regime."

Ridge and Attorney General John Ashcroft will hold a news conference on the heightened terror alert Tuesday morning.

Operation Liberation Shield

As part of the heightened alert, the Department of Homeland Security implemented a new national protective plan called "Operation Liberty Shield," which takes specific measures to protect the nation's critical infrastructures, including increased security at the nation's transportation facilities, borders, airports, and ports.

Under "Operation Liberty Shield," several federal agencies are taking new precautions, among them:

Every high interest vessel arriving or departing from American ports will have armed Coast Guard sea marshals onboard, closely watching the ship's crew and ensuring that it makes its port call safely. The Coast Guard will enforce security zones in and around critical infrastructure sites in key ports.

More agents and patrol units will be monitoring borders and customs officials will increase screenings of vehicles.

New temporary flight restrictions have been placed over certain cities, including New York and Washington, D.C.

State governors have been asked to provide more police and National Guard forces at select bridges and railroad companies will be asked to increase security measures at major facilities and rail hubs. Private railroad companies will also monitor shipments of hazardous material

The Department of Agriculture is urging producer companies to increase its security measures, inspect all vehicles and monitor all visitors to their facilities.

Al Qaeda Still a Threat

Ridge also stressed that the March 1 arrest of senior al Qaeda operative, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, has put the terror network on the defensive, but that it has not necessarily thwarted attack plans that are already in motion.

While intelligence shows that al Qaeda and its supporters are a principle threat to U.S. interests, Ridge said, "Iraqi state agents, Iraqi surrogate groups, other regional extremist organizations, and ad hoc groups or disgruntled individuals not connected to existing organizations or state agencies, may use this time period to conduct terrorist attacks against the U.S., or our interests abroad."

As in the last heightened terror alert, Ridge cited recent reports of suspicious activity around military facilities, ports, waterways, and targets that are considered symbolic to U.S. power and influence. He also said that the discovery of ricin production in London and the arrests that followed indicated that extremists may be planning plots against the United States, Britain and other allies and interests in Europe.

The alert level was first raised to orange on Feb. 7 and was lowered to "elevated" on Feb. 27, in part because of the end of the Muslim hajj holiday. High alert also prompts additional security measures at public events, restricted access to some facilities, and increased coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

That alert prompted anxious Americans to stock up on water, food and supplies such as duct tape, to seal off rooms in case of a chemical attack.

ABCNEWS' Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.

The Five Levels of Terror Alerts

The five levels of terrorism alerts, as well as recommended government and private-sector responses:

Green: Low risk of terrorist attacks.

   Refine and exercise planned protective measures.

   Ensure emergency personnel receive training.

   Assess facilities for vulnerabilities and take measures to reduce them.

Blue: Guarded condition. General risk of terrorist attack.

   Check communications with designated emergency response or command locations.

   Review and update emergency response procedures.

   Provide the public with necessary information.

Yellow: Elevated condition. Significant risk of terrorist attacks.

   Increase surveillance of critical locations.

   Coordinate emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions.

   Assess further refinement of protective measures within the context of the current threat information.

   Implement, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.

Orange: High risk of terrorist attacks.

   Coordinate necessary security efforts with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces.

   Take additional precaution at public events and possibly consider alternative venues or cancellations.

   Prepare to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed work force.

   Restrict access to threatened facilities to essential personnel only.

Red: Severe risk of terrorist attacks.

   Assign emergency response personnel and preposition specially trained teams.

   Monitor, redirect or constrain transportation systems.

   Close public and government facilities.

   Increase or redirect personnel to address critical emergency needs.

[austinTparty]

(((Ping)))

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? Maybe you should talk to the people of Israel. I think they would dispute that logic ...??

[CyberAnt]

According to Jim Angle at FOX, it was a DHS response to some specific threats within the last few hours. Jim and Brit Hume discussed the situation, and I was convinced it had nothing to do with Bush's speech.

[SuziQ]

I had thought about flying to MS for a family reunion this weekend. The cost was WAY too high, so I decided against it. Now, I'm glad I did! Unfortunately Sir SuziQ has to fly next week on bidness. I'll have to do some powerful praying while he's flying back and forth!

[Beck_isright]

"Join the American Tourism Boycott
of
France
Canada
Mexico
Germany
Russia
and
Chile"

Done. My trip to Toronto to visit some friends will be trashed tommorrow. I told them via email that until their government changes, there is no point on them coming down here either.