JHEMA - Homeland Security Advisory System

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=82 BGCOLOR="#009900" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>JEFFERSON HILLS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT</I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY SYSTEM</I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="3532c180.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The </B><B>Homeland Security Advisory System</B><B> provides a comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist attacks to federal, state, and local authorities and to the American people.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>President Bush signed Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3 creating the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). The advisory system provides the foundation for building a comprehensive and effective communications structure for the dissemination of information regarding the risk of terrorist attacks to all levels of government and the American people.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The US Attorney General is responsible for developing, implementing and managing the system.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>This advisory system characterizes appropriate levels of vigilance, preparedness and readiness in a series of graduated Threat Conditions. The Protective Measures that correspond to each Threat Condition will help the government and citizens decide what action they take to help counter and respond to terrorist activity.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Homeland Security Advisory System will provide a framework for the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Homeland Security, to assign Threat Conditions, which can apply nationally, regionally, by sector or to a potential target. Cabinet Secretaries and other members of the Homeland Security Council will be consulted as appropriate. A variety of factors may be used to assess the threat. Among these:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Is the threat credible? </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Is the threat corroborated? </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Is the threat specific and/or imminent? </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">How grave is the threat?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Public announcements of threat advisories and alerts help deter terrorist activity, notify law enforcement and State and local government officials of threats, inform the public about government preparations, and provide them with the information necessary to respond to the threat. State and local officials will be informed in advance of national threat advisories when possible. The Attorney General will develop a system for conveying relevant information to Federal, State, and local officials, and the private sector expeditiously.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Heightened Threat Conditions can be declared for the entire nation, or for a specific geographic area, functional or industrial sector. Changes in assigned Threat Conditions will be made when necessary.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The HSAS establishes five Threat Conditions with associated suggested Protective Measures: </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Low Condition</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#009966 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="96"><div> <B>GREEN</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>Low risk of terrorist attacks.</B><B> The following Protective Measures may be applied: </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Refining and exercising preplanned Protective Measures </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ensuring personnel receive training on HSAS, departmental, or agency-specific Protective Measures; and </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Regularly assessing facilities for vulnerabilities and taking measures to reduce them.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Guarded Condition </B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#3366CC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="96"><div> <B>BLUE</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>General risk of terrorist attack.</B><B> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied: </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Checking communications with designated emergency response or command locations; </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Providing the public with necessary information. </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Elevated Condition</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF33 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="96"><div> <B>YELLOW</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>Significant risk of terrorist attacks.</B><B> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied: </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Increasing surveillance of critical locations; </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Coordinating emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions; </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assessing further refinement of Protective Measures within the context of the current threat information; and </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans. </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>High Condition</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFCC00 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="96"><div> <B>ORANGE</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>High risk of terrorist attacks.</B><B> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied: </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Coordinating necessary security efforts with armed forces or law enforcement agencies; </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Taking additional precaution at public events; </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Preparing to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed workforce; and Restricting access to essential personnel only. </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Severe Condition</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="102" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FF3333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="96"><div> <B>RED</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>Severe risk of terrorist attacks.</B><B> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied: </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning specially trained teams; Monitoring, redirecting or constraining transportation systems; </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Closing public and government facilities; and </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs. </B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>For more information on federal efforts, visit the federal site </B></FONT><A HREF="http://www.dhs.gov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.dhs.gov"><U><B>www.dhs.gov</B></U></A><B>.</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>