# Homeland Security Color Codes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-color-codes/144704>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 24, 2002, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-color-codes/144704 "2002-12-24T11:38:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-color-codes/144704/1 "2002-12-24T11:38:45Z")

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Okay, can someone explain the purpose of this system to me again.

And does ANYONE pay any attention to them any more then “hmm, it’s cloudy out”?

The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be any functional difference between “Green”, (not that we are ever going to get down that far) and “Red” for most people I know. I don’t think keeping it elevated helps this at all. Rather hard to pay attention to “Orange” alert when you are almost always near or at “Orange”. It becomes routine.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-color-codes/144704/2 "2002-12-24T16:18:35Z")

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Here ya go.  
[http://www.sfasis.org/terrorism/colorcodes.htm](http://www.sfasis.org/terrorism/colorcodes.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*Low Condition Green \*\*  
> Low risk of terrorist attacks.
> 
> The following Protective Measures may be applied:
> 
> Refining and exercising preplanned Protective Measures  
> Ensuring personnel receive training on HSAS, departmental, or agency-specific Protective Measures; and  
> Regularly assessing facilities for vulnerabilities and taking measures to reduce them.
> 
> \*\*Guarded Condition Blue \*\*  
> General risk of terrorist attack.
> 
> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:
> 
> Checking communications with designated emergency response or command locations;  
> Reviewing and updating emergency response procedures; and  
> Providing the public with necessary information.
> 
> \*\*Elevated Condition Yellow \*\*  
> Significant risk of terrorist attacks.
> 
> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:
> 
> Increasing surveillance of critical locations;  
> Coordinating emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions;  
> Assessing further refinement of Protective Measures within the context of the current threat information; and  
> Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.
> 
> **High Condition Orange**  
> High risk of terrorist attacks.
> 
> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:
> 
> Coordinating necessary security efforts with armed forces or law enforcement agencies;  
> Taking additional precaution at public events;  
> Preparing to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed workforce; and  
> Restricting access to essential personnel only.
> 
> \*\*Severe Condition Red \*\*  
> Severe risk of terrorist attacks.
> 
> In addition to the previously outlined Protective Measures, the following may be applied:
> 
> Assigning emergency response personnel and pre-positioning specially trained teams;  
> Monitoring, redirecting or constraining transportation systems;  
> Closing public and government facilities; and  
> Increasing or redirecting personnel to address critical emergency needs.

Don’t get many excuses to play with the color coding… 😃

The big changes are at Yellow, when they start increasing surveillance of certain sensitive areas (the reservoir, the important bridge), and at Orange, when they start restricting access to certain places, like the FBI building, and start laying on more security for things like the Super Bowl, and at Red, when they start closing government offices and redirecting trains and personnel.

The Man On The Street probably won’t notice any of these changes, which is why it seems to you like there’s no difference between the levels. But to the people involved, it can mean that at Code Green they go to work at their regular office building, at Code Orange they get to ride around in a patrol car, and at Code Red they don’t go to work at all.