For Immediate Release
February 7, 2003

FEMA Action Response Steps During Periods of Orange-Level Heightened Alert

In response to the elevation of the Homeland Security Advisory System to “High Security Risk” (Orange), the Federal Emergency Management Agency will take the following immediate actions:

• Continue all security requirements for previous Threat Conditions

• Contact security Points of Contact at least DAILY to collect and disseminate threat and intelligence information.

• Review plans for and be prepared to immediately implement SEVERE (Red) Threat Condition measures

• Place the on-call Emergency Response Team -National on ALERT.

• Place the off-call Emergency Response Team -National on CALL.

• Place the National Capital Region Emergency Response Team -National on ALERT.

• Consider ACTIVATING Regional Operations Centers at Level 3.

• Place the on-call Emergency Support Team on ALERT (consider activating the EST at Level 3).

• Place the off-call Emergency Support Team on CALL.

• Consider ACTIVATING the Emergency Support Team at Level 3 at their COOP location.

• Place FEMA members rostered on the Consequence Management component of the Domestic Emergency Support Team on ALERT.

• Place the FEMA COOP Emergency Relocation Group on ALERT if the threat is nonspecific.

• Consider ACTIVATING the FEMA COOP Emergency Relocation Group if the threat is specific to the National Capital Region or area region.

• Place the Department and Agency COOP Emergency Relocation Group on ALERT if the threat is nonspecific.

• Consider ACTIVATING the Department and Agency COOP Emergency Relocation Group if the threat is specific to the National Capital Region or area region.

• Send ADVISORY to all Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces.

• Reaffirm communications lines with federal computer incident handling and response centers.