DHS to end color-coded terror alert system
Former Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge unveils the color-coded U.S. threat advisory system in 2002.
January 26th, 2011
03:00 PM ET

DHS to end color-coded terror alert system

The Department of Homeland Security is ending its color-coded terror threat level system in April, as expected, CNN's National Security Contributor Fran Townsend has confirmed.

The system was established in 2002 to inform the public of the current risk of terrorist acts through a five-level, color-coded "Threat Condition" indicator. Today's terror threat level for the U.S. government is elevated, or yellow, and for all domestic and international flights, the U.S. threat level is high, or orange, according to DHS.

In its place, DHS will move to a system that focuses on specific threats in geographical areas. It will be called the National Terror Advisory System. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano will officially make the announcement tomorrow at a "State of America's Homeland Security" speech at George Washington University.

FULL STORY
Post by:
Filed under: National security • Politics
soundoff (137 Responses)
  1. SingleStepper

    This is probably the most signifigant event in my lifetime

    January 26, 2011 at 7:59 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Philip

    Maybe we could keep our color-coded "terror alert" system, but put it to work along our southern border. Some illegals entering this country could be al Qaeda agentS in disguise ya know. Each time say, over 1,000 cross, we could go to "possible al Qaeda invasion" threat level RED. On second thought, perhaps we shouldn't do this. Congress would have to fund all the red light bulbs we would need, and then we would have to borrow from China to pay for the bulbs they sell us.

    January 26, 2011 at 10:14 pm | Report abuse |
  3. JeanClaudeVanDarn

    Solar powered lights phil. Get with the green tech times.

    January 26, 2011 at 10:24 pm | Report abuse |
  4. NOH8

    This is sooo discriminatory. We NEVER got to experience a pink or lavender threat yet. Let the drag queens have their day too, before you end it all!

    January 26, 2011 at 10:26 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Philip

    @JC has VD...he he. If we used solar panels, the "terrorists" could see them. Best we use a Tesla coil.

    January 26, 2011 at 10:29 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Philip

    Or we could use the terror alert system for when kids didn't fasten their seatbelts. (not in that 5-star crash rated car you drive, on that zero-star schoolbus they ride)

    January 26, 2011 at 11:14 pm | Report abuse |
  7. JeanClaudeVanDarn

    I'm surprised we don't have more solar powered traffic lights. They're starting to introduce roundabouts at busy intersections by me. They not only alleviate congestion but require no electricity. Tesla coils are sweet. There's this guy who does a musical show where he shoots out electricity from his hands. The electricity dances to the music. You can probably find it on youtube

    January 26, 2011 at 11:51 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Philip

    @JCVD...Good points. Maybe the gov. can use solar energy to power their spycams at intersections too. And I see roundabouts going up also. Two were recently done near the Broadmoor Hotel (famaous for where dubya got drunk "for the last time") in Colorado Springs. They made a huge difference after people got used to them.

    January 27, 2011 at 12:12 am | Report abuse |
  9. Philip

    @Jim Brieske...just for your own info., the original Christians like Jesus and his early followers never joined an army nor a revolt. They never swore allegience to any flag. One of them drew his weapon one time, and that was to protect Jesus himself from the angry Jewish mob who were trying to take hold of him. Jesus corrected this by saying "My Kingdom is no part of this world, otherwise my attendants would fight." It is the false Christians who choose to obey men, like government officials, rather than God. God's word is crystal clear on this matter: "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword"

    January 27, 2011 at 12:19 am | Report abuse |
  10. bob w florida

    beware of the TV false profits err prophets that claim to speak for Jesus...
    Phillip I say what you said 100% amen

    beware the 501 c 3 so called church that gets their walking papers from the govt and is nothing but a jesus flavored country club...

    January 27, 2011 at 1:15 pm | Report abuse |
  11. vision

    TEST

    February 16, 2011 at 4:27 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Anon

    I GOT AN IDEA!!!

    LET'S CUT IT FROM THE BUDGET, NOT IMPLEMENT A NEW SYSTEM, AND SAVE OURSELVES SOME MONEY. SERIOUSLY, WHAT DOES THIS DO OTHER THAN CREATE MASS PARANOIA?

    April 8, 2011 at 6:26 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6
« Back to main