War on Terror: National Alert System
By Corey Lyons
Contra Costa Newspapers
March 13, 2002
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge unveiled a color-coded terrorist warning system Tuesday that strives to wire the country to a universal plan to identify threats and thwart potential violence.
The five-tier system, with red being the most urgent, addresses widespread public criticism over a handful of vague terrorist alerts issued by the government since Sept. 11.
Those alerts were widely panned for inciting fear without offering any useful guidelines with which to prepare for potential attacks.
Ridge outlined a sweeping federal plan in which five colors would be used to identify the severity of threats, each of which would trigger a coordinated and prepared response.
A red alert, for instance, would involve closing public and government buildings and other safety precautions that were put in place immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The lowest-status warning is green, followed by blue, yellow, orange and red, which was described as "a severe risk of terrorist attacks."
Federal, state and local officials would be allowed to devise their own response strategies. They have 45 days in which to provide comment on the alarm system.
While Ridge urged state and local governments to adopt the plan, the former Pennsylvania governor does not have the authority to force them to do so.
"We, too, must take new measures to protect our cities, our resources and people from the threat we face today, the threat of terrorism," Ridge said in a speech at the White House.
Hundreds of police departments and communities were notified of the system Tuesday. In addition, they were told the country is in a yellow, or "elevated condition" of alert that will probably not be reduced for years.
"We should not expect a V-T day, a victory-over-terrorism day, anytime soon," Ridge said. "But that does not mean Americans are powerless against the threat."
Nonetheless, many law enforcement agencies already operating under a "heightened state of alert" since Sept. 11 wondered whether the new system would add protection.
"These announcements are intended to make people feel better," said San Pablo Police Chief Douglas Krathwohl. "Everyone is trying to think of something to do. If there are no specifics and you don't even have the resources to man a department 24 hours, what can you do?"
Other police officials questioned whether they would qualify for federal aid for additional training and materials under the early warning system.
"We need money for things that will help us communicate in a coordinated fashion if something does happen," said Richmond Fire Department Battalion Chief James Fajardo.
In a more specific cost assessment, Alameda County authorities estimated this year that they need $18 million in funding for anti-terrorism planning and training.
Meanwhile, Gov. Gray Davis thanked Ridge for developing the plan. He praised the Bush administration for incorporating some of the suggestions made by California officials.
Davis said he met with Ridge in December and asked then if the state could launch its own warning system. Ridge told him to hold off while a federal plan was developed.
State officials had recommended a staged-alert system with numbers one to four, modeled on California's power shortage warning system.
The drafting of the federal warning, coupled with last month's approval of the "Safe Skies" program that trains California Highway Patrol officers to provide additional security on flights within the state, shows that the Bush administration is responding to California's needs, he said.
"I asked two things of them since Sept. 11, and both times they have answered in the affirmative," Davis said of President Bush and Ridge.
On Tuesday, most local agencies appeared willing to embrace the Homeland Security Advisory System as a valuable tool that could clarify the seriousness of a threat.
"If they put out an announcement nationwide and we have a red alert, we can gauge how serious it is right away," said Lt. Jim Knudsen of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
CHP spokesman Steve Kohler agreed. "We want to get the best information possible and get it out in a way that can assist us quickly. It sounds like a step in the right direction."
East Bay residents, however, seemed split over whether the new system would better prepare a community against an attack or further add to the vague messages that have persisted for months amid a backdrop of fear.
"It sounds better than a general alert, but we still wouldn't know how serious it is," said Steven Halloran, a security guard at the Contra Costa Federal Credit Union in Antioch.
"We'd like to be tipped off if there is the threat of a biological or chemical attack," he added, "but without knowing for sure, we're still in the dark."
Contra Costa Newspapers
March 13, 2002
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge unveiled a color-coded terrorist warning system Tuesday that strives to wire the country to a universal plan to identify threats and thwart potential violence.
The five-tier system, with red being the most urgent, addresses widespread public criticism over a handful of vague terrorist alerts issued by the government since Sept. 11.
Those alerts were widely panned for inciting fear without offering any useful guidelines with which to prepare for potential attacks.
Ridge outlined a sweeping federal plan in which five colors would be used to identify the severity of threats, each of which would trigger a coordinated and prepared response.
A red alert, for instance, would involve closing public and government buildings and other safety precautions that were put in place immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The lowest-status warning is green, followed by blue, yellow, orange and red, which was described as "a severe risk of terrorist attacks."
Federal, state and local officials would be allowed to devise their own response strategies. They have 45 days in which to provide comment on the alarm system.
While Ridge urged state and local governments to adopt the plan, the former Pennsylvania governor does not have the authority to force them to do so.
"We, too, must take new measures to protect our cities, our resources and people from the threat we face today, the threat of terrorism," Ridge said in a speech at the White House.
Hundreds of police departments and communities were notified of the system Tuesday. In addition, they were told the country is in a yellow, or "elevated condition" of alert that will probably not be reduced for years.
"We should not expect a V-T day, a victory-over-terrorism day, anytime soon," Ridge said. "But that does not mean Americans are powerless against the threat."
Nonetheless, many law enforcement agencies already operating under a "heightened state of alert" since Sept. 11 wondered whether the new system would add protection.
"These announcements are intended to make people feel better," said San Pablo Police Chief Douglas Krathwohl. "Everyone is trying to think of something to do. If there are no specifics and you don't even have the resources to man a department 24 hours, what can you do?"
Other police officials questioned whether they would qualify for federal aid for additional training and materials under the early warning system.
"We need money for things that will help us communicate in a coordinated fashion if something does happen," said Richmond Fire Department Battalion Chief James Fajardo.
In a more specific cost assessment, Alameda County authorities estimated this year that they need $18 million in funding for anti-terrorism planning and training.
Meanwhile, Gov. Gray Davis thanked Ridge for developing the plan. He praised the Bush administration for incorporating some of the suggestions made by California officials.
Davis said he met with Ridge in December and asked then if the state could launch its own warning system. Ridge told him to hold off while a federal plan was developed.
State officials had recommended a staged-alert system with numbers one to four, modeled on California's power shortage warning system.
The drafting of the federal warning, coupled with last month's approval of the "Safe Skies" program that trains California Highway Patrol officers to provide additional security on flights within the state, shows that the Bush administration is responding to California's needs, he said.
"I asked two things of them since Sept. 11, and both times they have answered in the affirmative," Davis said of President Bush and Ridge.
On Tuesday, most local agencies appeared willing to embrace the Homeland Security Advisory System as a valuable tool that could clarify the seriousness of a threat.
"If they put out an announcement nationwide and we have a red alert, we can gauge how serious it is right away," said Lt. Jim Knudsen of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
CHP spokesman Steve Kohler agreed. "We want to get the best information possible and get it out in a way that can assist us quickly. It sounds like a step in the right direction."
East Bay residents, however, seemed split over whether the new system would better prepare a community against an attack or further add to the vague messages that have persisted for months amid a backdrop of fear.
"It sounds better than a general alert, but we still wouldn't know how serious it is," said Steven Halloran, a security guard at the Contra Costa Federal Credit Union in Antioch.
"We'd like to be tipped off if there is the threat of a biological or chemical attack," he added, "but without knowing for sure, we're still in the dark."
posted by Corey at 3:38 PM
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