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A script to check the USA's Homeland Security threat level
Authored by: foobar104 on Jan 16, '04 05:19:20PM

I share your intention of not going all political and whatnot. That said, please remember that the alert conditions most certainly do have very concrete and specific meanings. Airport and event security procedures differ under yellow and orange. Police and highway patrol procedures differ. Security conditions at hospitals, shopping malls, arenas, schools, and other places where lots of people gather differ significantly between yellow and orange. Procedures for the national guard differ. Under orange, air national guard units fly combat air patrols over sensitive places like cities and military installations, and the rules of engagement are altered. Under orange, incoming international passenger and cargo flights are intercepted by ANG aircraft, and often guided right in to their points of destination.

Just because it doesn't mean anything to you, a private citizen unconnected in any way to a defense or security organization, don't conclude that it doesn't mean anything to anybody.



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A script to check the USA's Homeland Security threat level
Authored by: mewyn on Jan 16, '04 06:09:28PM

I do realize that this is OT, but what the hay. I work at one of the largest hospitals in the Chicago area, and we have no changing proceedures that change based on this 'threat level.' Most people here wouldn't even know what level it is on a given day.

Also, I have flown on both orange and yellow days, and the security did not seem a bit different. If you have some secret insight into this, I sure would like to know.



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A script to check the USA's Homeland Security threat level
Authored by: raider on Jan 17, '04 01:56:47AM
Neither our local nor state change their police or highway patrol procedures when the threat levels change. In fact, they are so under funded - the stupid threat level color is the last thing they think about. Also, I have never noticed any change at any of our State Government facilities, nor in our airports. None of our shopping malls change a thing either. In fact, the only thing that I can recal changing with the terror threat level indicator is what they will allow into the local NBA games... They stop allowing bags or backpacks when the level gets elevated. That'll save the world...

The threat level color is the most useless and wasted effort in the government today, bar none.

Aside from the stupidity of the color code system, this is a pretty cool hint though... Even if it serves no practical purpose...

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A script to check the USA's Homeland Security threat level
Authored by: Cerberus on Jan 17, '04 06:38:51AM

I think you are closer than any other persion to this. Each institution or government facility is able to better assess its response and security diligence with the threat level.

My local airport might operate under a yellow, which causes A, B and C to happen, but this may only visibly affect the TSA (Transportation Security Administration, a GOVERNMENT agency) who ONLY screen your baggage. The airlines have their own policy(s), which may or may not change with the threat level.

When the threat level changes, I see random FULL-CAR searches at the airport, and that happens BEFORE anyone gets within 1500 feet of the airport. Sometimes they shut down the short-term parking. Around here usually Delta allows you to get on a plane without ID (and at some other airports) but NorthWest (ALWAYS SEEMS TO) want a picture ID and your boarding card etc. However if you fly into Atlanta (atlanta-hartsfield is the busiest airport in the United States and HUb for Delta, AirTran and a few others) usually Delta will ask you for a picture ID to get on any flight. So I can get on a plane from here without an ID but have to present one to keep going to my destination. etc.etc.etc. So it is up to each group what to do with the threat level and I think this is as it should be. Keep'em on their toes (and by them I mean anyone trying to threaten me and my fellow human beings)

BTW. I *PERSONALLY* have not had the threat level change my habits and whether that is naivety or a trust in my fellow citizens and a general trust in the decency of mankind if for noone to judge or comment on but me.



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