New System

From Yahoo:

"Homeland Security Secretary to Announce New Terror Alert System"

 

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said today that in the coming days he will announce a "new terror alert system" for the United States. "I believe that we need to do a better job of informing the public at large of what we are seeing, removing some of the mystery about the global terrorism threat and what we are doing about it and what we are asking the public to do,” Johnson said. Johnson said the United States has moved into a “new phase” in the global terrorist threat and requires an alert system that can respond appropriately.   “We're dealing with the prospect of terrorist-inspired attacks by someone who may be totally below our radar and could act on a moment's notice," he said. The current National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), which replaced the old color-coded warning system, has never been activated because it depends on a specific, credible threat to the homeland. "I believe that in this environment we need to get beyond that and go to a new system that has an intermediate level to it and I'll be announcing soon hopefully what our new system is that I think reflects the current environment and the current realities," he said. He made his remarks in the wake of the shooting in San Bernardino that left 14 victims dead and 21 other injured, which the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism. Following Johnson's remarks, a DHS official said that this was actually "not a new system." "Earlier this year, Secretary Johnson directed a review of the NTAS to determine how the Department of Homeland Security can more effectively and quickly communicate information to the public and other partners regarding threats to the homeland. This is not a new system. DHS will announce changes to the NTAS in the near future," said the official. "As always, we will adjust security measures, as necessary, to protect the American people to meet a constantly evolving threat picture." In October, Johnson said that DHS was looking at revising the current alert system that replaced the color-coded system based on the latest threats. “I will tell you that we are considering revising our NTAS system, the National Threat Advisory System, which we’ve never used. We left the color-coded bars to an NTAS system, which we’ve never used. I’ve asked our folks to consider whether we should revise that system to accommodate how the terrorist threat has evolved. That review is underway now," said Johnson in October.

^ I don't see this system being any more effective or useful as the old one. The only time most people pay attention to alerts is after an attack has taken place. ^

http://news.yahoo.com/homeland-security-secretary-announce-terror-alert-system-184517285--abc-news-topstories.html