https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/us/25colors.html?_r=1

U.S. to Drop Color-Coded Terror Alerts

Quote :

"There goes another punch line. The Department of Homeland Security is planning to get rid of the color-coded terrorism alert system. Known officially as the Homeland Security Advisory System, the five-color scheme was introduced by the Bush administration in March 2002. Red, the highest level, meant “severe risk of terrorist attacks.” The lowest level, green, meant “low risk of terrorist attacks.” Between those were blue (guarded risk), yellow (significant) and orange (high). The nation has generally lived in the yellow and orange range. The threat level has never been green, or even blue."

But how will I know how much to panic every day?

I'm borrowing this from another blog because it sums up my thoughts on it:

Quote :

"Another alert system to compare this one too is the DEFCON system. At each DEFCON level, there are specific actions people have to take: at one DEFCON level -- and I'm making this up -- you call everyone back from leave, at another you fuel all the bombers, at another you arm the bombs, and so on. What actions am I supposed to take when the terrorist threat level is Yellow? When it is Orange? I have no idea"

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/11/the_dhs_is_gett.html

11/25/2010 10:16:00 AM

Also known as the "remember to vote incumbent" meter.

11/25/2010 10:28:46 AM

Quote :

"The threat level has never been green, or even blue."

That's pretty damn sad, and it makes the system pretty damn useless too. The last few attempts at attacks were out of the blue. Nobody saw it coming.

11/25/2010 11:16:17 AM

^ Except the guy's dad, who tried to warn us and was ignored. Now because of the "underwear bomber" I have to either have some guy look look at a blurry image of my junk or have some dude cup my balls.

11/25/2010 11:24:53 AM