Department of homeland security (dhs) raised the homeland security advisory system (hsas) from elevated…

Original warning text

                        THREAT CONDITION LEVEL HIGH (ORANGE).
1. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) RAISED THE
   HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY SYSTEM (HSAS) FROM ELEVATED
   (YELLOW) TO THREAT CONDITION HIGH (ORANGE) ON 21 DEC.
   THIS CONDITION SIGNIFIES A HIGH RISK OF TERRORIST ATTACK.
   DHS HAS RECEIVED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF THREAT
   RELATED INTELLIGENCE REPORTS THAT ARE PERHAPS GREATER
   NOW THAN AT ANY POINT SINCE 11 SEP 01.
2. THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BELIEVES THAT AL-QAIDA CONTINUES
   TO DEVELOP PLANS TO USE AIRCRAFT AS A WEAPON IN SUICIDE ATTACKS
   IN THE UNITED STATES, AND CONTINUES TO STUDY COUNTRIES TO
   DETERMINE THOSE THAT HAVE THE LEAST STRINGENT AVIATION SECURITY
   MEASURES. IN ADDITION, THE ACQUISITION, PRODUCTION, OR THEFT
   OF CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, OR NUCLEAR MATERIALS
   AND SUBSEQUENT DISSEMINATION IS A TOP AL-QAIDA OBJECTIVE.
3. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OWNERS OF MARITIME VESSELS AND FACILITIES
   ARE REQUESTED TO: (1) REVIEW ALL VESSEL SECURITY PLANS,
   (2) MONITOR RESTRICTED AREAS, (3) CONTROL ACCESS TO THE VESSEL,
   (4) MONITOR DECK AREAS AND AREAS SURROUNDING THE VESSEL,
   (5) IMPLEMENT SECURITY LOOKOUTS AND/OR SECURITY PATROLS TO
   ENSURE CONTINUOUS MONITORING, (6) PERFORM WATERSIDE BOAT PATROLS
   TO ENSURE CONTINUOUS MONITORING, (7) USE DIVERS TO INSPECT THE
   UNDERWATER PIER STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH VESSEL BERTHING AND
   LOADING/UNLOADING OPERATIONS, INCLUDING PIERS, DOCKS, MOLES,
   POL DOLPHINS, ETC, PRIOR TO VESSEL ARRIVAL AND UPON VESSEL'S
   ARRIVAL, AND IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE DEEMED APPROPRIATE,
   (8) CONTROL THE EMBARKATION OF PERSONS AND THEIR EFFECTS,
   AND (9) SUPERVISE THE HANDLING OF CARGO, VESSEL STORES
   AND BUNKERS.
4. MARITIME INDUSTRY OPERATORS ARE URGED TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVELS
   OF SECURITY AND IMPLEMENT APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE MEASURES
   THAT CORRESPOND TO THREAT CONDITION ORANGE UNDER THE HSAS.
5. DHS ENCOURAGES RECIPIENTS OF THIS ADVISORY TO REPORT INFORMATION
   CONCERNING SUSPICIOUS OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO LOCAL LAW
   ENFORCEMENT, LOCAL FBI JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE OR THE
   HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER (HSOC). THE HSOC MAY BE
   CONTACTED AT PHONE: 202 282 8101. THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
   CAN ALSO REPORT INFORMATION CONCERNING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO
   THEIR LOCAL FBI OFFICE THROUGH THE FBI WEBSITE
   WWW.FBI.GOV/CONTACT/FO/FO.HTM OR TO THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
   PROTECTION CENTER (NIPC) AT ITS WEBSITE:
   WWW.NIPC.GOV/INCIDENT/CIRR.HTM.
6. U.S. MERCHANT VESSELS AND CRUISE SHIPS SHOULD BE ON A HEIGHTENED
   STATE OF SECURITY, SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE NATIONAL
   GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCYS (NGA) BROADCAST WARNINGS
   AND SHOULD REVIEW THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES FOR
   ASSISTANCE IN NGA PUBLICATION 117.
7. ALL U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY
   TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDIENT MEANS. THIS ADVISORY WILL
   SUBSEQUENTLY BE PUBLISHED IN THE "WEEKLY NOTICE TO MARINERS" AND
   MARAD INTERNET WEB SITE: WWW.MARAD.DOT.GOV.
8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY CONTACT THE
   MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SHIP OPERATIONS,
   CODE MAR-613, ROOM 2123, 400 7TH STREET SW, WASHINGTON,
   DC 20590; PHONE: 202 366 5735, OR BY EMAIL:
   OPCENTR1@MARAD.DOT.GOV.
9. THE HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY SYSTEM HAS BEEN ELEVATED
   TO THREAT CONDITION ORANGE.