The National Terrorism Advisory System (HSAS)

Running head: National Terrorism Advisory System

The National Terrorism Advisory System

Abstract
As part of a series of initiatives to improve coordination and communication among all levels of government and the American public, the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) was created. This advisory system was the foundation for building a comprehensive and effective communications structure to give information regarding the risk of terrorist attacks. This system was revised at a later date and became the Nation Terrorism Advisory System.
Homeland Security Advisory System

In March of 2002, President George W. Bush signed Presidential Directive3 which created the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). This
This update would be called the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). The NTAS is a robust terrorism advisory system that provides timely information to the public about credible terrorist threats and replaces the former color-coded alert system (Chronology of Changes to the Homeland Security Advisory System). The main differences were, they removed the color code system and instead replaced it with two terms; Elevated Threat Alert, and Imminent Threat Alert. An Elevated Threat warns of a credible terrorist threat against the United States whereas an Imminent Threat warns of a credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the United States (NTAS Guide April 20 2011, 2011) . Under NTAS, DHS will coordinate with other federal agencies to issue detailed alerts to the public when the federal government receives information about a credible terrorist threat. Depending on the nature of the threat, alerts may be sent to law enforcement, distributed to affected areas of the private sector, or issued more broadly to the public through both official and social media channels. Theses alerts were to include a clear statement using the most up to date information. It may also include specific information, if available, about the nature of the threat, including the
Alerts will simultaneously be posted at DHS.gov/alerts and released to the news media for distribution. The Department of Homeland Security will also distribute alerts across its social media channels, including the Department’s blog, Twitter stream, Facebook page, and RSS feed ( NTAS Guide April 20 2011, 2011). The NTAS realizes that all Americans help with the responsibility of the nation’s security. As such, citizens should be aware of the risk of a terrorist attack and thus should report any and all suspicious activity their local law enforcement. In order to properly understand what “suspicious activity” is, the campaign of “If you see something, say something” was formed. Factors such as race, ethnicity, national origin, or religious affiliation alone are not suspicious. For that reason, the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack in a public place or someone trying to break into a restricted area) rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions, associations, or speech unrelated to terrorism or other criminal