Recently, on April 26, a new terrorist alert system – the National Terrorism Alert System (NTAS) – went into effect. The NTAS replaced the old color-coded alert system that had been in place since 2002. The NTAS will include “imminent threat” and “elevated threat” alerts.
This article from HomelandSecurityNewswire.com breaks down the new system and its benefits.
“I am here to announce a major change in the way we keep the public informed about potential terrorist threats,” said Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano.
An “elevated threat” alert warns when a credible terrorism threat against the United States is discovered. An “imminent threat” alert warns of a credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the United States and in certain cases sends that alert directly to law enforcement.
These alerts will expire on their own – after two week – unless the intelligence community recommends that the alert stay in effect.
The new system will also utilize social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, to help spread the alerts to the country. But some terror warnings may be withheld from the public if it is deemed that announcing a threat would risk exposing an intelligence operation or a current investigation, according to the government’s confidential plan.
For any questions about the National Terrorism Alert System, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.