Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS)

Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS)

What is your reaction to the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System? Do you think it has been effective, or ineffective? Support your argument with examples/citations.

Author: Jonathan B. Smith

Date: October 6, 2004

Michigan State University 's School of Criminal Justice
Foundations of Homeland Security
Professor Phillip D. Schertzing, Ph.D.
Module 5 : A Work in Progress: The National Homeland Security System

Overall

Based upon our readings and my personal experience, I believe that the Homeland Security Threat Advisory System (HSAS) is a work in progress. I feel that the system has been effective at heightening the nation's overall awareness regarding the macro threat level. A large portion of the population has heard of the HSAS, at least on the nightly news.

Lack of Granularity

To date, the HSAS has failed to provide specific information regarding the nature of the contemplated threats and very little geographic specificity. New York city has been on Orange Alert since 9/11, but the public generally does not comprehend the distinction between an Orange Alert in NYC and a national Yellow Alert.

Temperature without Diagnosing the Cause

Without specific facts about the nature of the threats at large the HSAS system is good for little more than "taking the terror temperature." If the system were to actually provide specific details about the "the temperature," by "diagnosing the nature of the infection, pinpointing its location and providing a prescription to kill the bacteria" the HSAS would be far more effective.

Amber Alert

I believe that the DHS should consider the success of the Amber Alert system and model elements of the HSAS after the success of the national Amber Alert system.

My position was validated on January 5, 2005 when the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) annouced that they are going to take the lead on integrating the Amber Alert Portal into an upgraded form of the current Emergency Alert System (EAS) infrastructure: