About The Homeland Security Advisory System

The Homeland Security Advisory System is designed to target our protective measures when specific information to a specific sector or geographic region is received. It combines threat information with vulnerability assessments and provides communications to public safety officials and the public.

• Homeland Security Threat Advisories contain actionable information about an incident involving, or a threat targeting, critical national networks or infrastructures or key assets. They could, for example, relay newly developed procedures that, when implemented, would significantly improve security or protection. They could also suggest a change in readiness posture, protective actions, or response. This category includes products formerly named alerts, advisories, and sector notifications. Advisories are targeted to Federal, state, and local governments, private sector organizations, and international partners.
• Homeland Security Information Bulletins communicate information of interest to the nation's trade critical infrastructures that do not meet the timeliness, specificity, or significance thresholds of warning messages. Such information may include statistical reports, periodic summaries, incident response or reporting guidelines, common vulnerabilities and patches, and configuration standards or tools. It also may include preliminary requests for information. Bulletins are targeted to Federal, state, and local governments, private sector organizations, and international partners.
• Color-coded Threat Level System is used to communicate with public safety officials and the public at-large through a threat-based, color-coded system so that protective measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood or impact of an attack. Raising the threat condition has economic, physical, and psychological effects on the nation; so, the Homeland Security Advisory System can place specific geographic regions or industry sectors on a higher alert status than other regions or industries, based on specific threat information.

There are five "threat conditions," and each has a specific color. Your federal government and emergency managers have specific actions they take depending on the threat level. The greater the risk of a terrorist attack, the higher the threat level.

	Low - low risk of terrorist attacks. Low Condition (Green). There is a low risk of terrorist attacks.
	Guarded - General risk of terrorist attacks. Guarded Condition (Blue). There is a general risk of terrorist attacks.
	Elevated - Significant risk of terrorist attacks. Elevated Condition (Yellow). There is a significant risk of terrorist attacks. The public should be alert to suspicious activity.
	High - High risk of terrorist attacks. High Condition (Orange). There is a high risk of terrorist attacks. Officials will take additional precautions at public events and restrict access to some specific sites within a city or area.
	Severe - Severe risk of terrorist attacks. Severe Condition (Red). There is a severe risk of terrorist attacks and is the highest level. Officials may close public and government buildings, activate special teams and limit transportation systems. People should avoid public gathering places and stay tuned to the media.