Information for Travelers

Homeland Security Presidential Directive — 3

The Office of Homeland Security posted an announcement on the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) on March 12, 2002. This information addresses the security situation in the United States. The HSAS does not change the terminology used by the State Department overseas to characterize threat conditions in the host country or the Consular Information Program (CIP), which will continue to warn U.S. Citizens to threats to their safety or security abroad.

The Department of State continues to monitor the situation overseas with regard to the safety of Americans, and, as always, will promptly share any credible threat information through its consular information programs and through the warden system. These documents are available on the Department's website at: www.travel.state.gov or at your locality's American consulate or Embassy.

Homeland Security Advisory System

Note: please access www.whitehouse.gov for full text version.

March 12, 2002 — The Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) will provide a means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts to the American government and people. The HSAS is intended to create a common vocabulary, context, and structure for an ongoing national discussion about the nature of the threats that confront the homeland and the appropriate measures that should be taken in response. It seeks to inform and facilitate decisions appropriate to different levels of government and to private citizens at home and at work.

The HSAS will be binding on the executive branch, with the exception of the Department of Defense and the State Department's Overseas Posts.

There are five Threat Conditions, each identified by a description and corresponding color. From lowest to highest, the levels and colors are:

Level	Color	Description
Low	Green	Declared when there is a low risk of terrorist attacks
Guarded	Blue	Declared when there is a general risk of terrorist attacks
Elevated	Yellow	Declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks
High	Orange	Declared when there is high risk of terrorist attacks
Severe	Red	Reflects a severe risk of terrorist attacks