The American Red Cross has attempted to answer the questions of many Americans about the Homeland Security Advisory System, a color-coded system that depicts the current risk of terrorist activity. Questions like, what specific steps should we take at each of the five terrorist attack threat levels?

"We thought it would be helpful to the American public to answer the inevitable question as to 'What does going to orange or red mean to me or my family?'" said Carol Hall, manager of Red Cross' Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism Program.

Along with developing disaster plans and survival kits, the Red Cross recommends Americans take the following steps at threat levels Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange and Red:

Green-Low Risk of Terrorist Attack

• Learn basic first aid and CPR
• Examine volunteer opportunities in your community and choose an agency that provides disaster preparedness training

• Be alert to suspicious activity and report it to proper authorities
• Review stored disaster supplies and replace items that are outdated
• Volunteer and take advantage of additional volunteer training opportunities

Yellow-Elevated; Significant Risk of Terrorist Attack

• Check telephone numbers and e-mail addresses in your personal communication plan and update as necessary
• Develop alternate routes to and from work and school and practice using them
• Contact your child's school and obtain its emergency notification and evacuation plans
• Continue volunteering and taking additional training

Orange-High Risk of Terrorist Attack

• Review your personal disaster plan and update as required.
• Have materials on hand in case you are confined to your home during a disaster.
• If a need is announced, donate blood at a blood collection center.
• Prior to engaging in volunteer activities, contact the agency to determine its needs.

Red-Severe Risk of Terrorist Attack

• Listen to radio/television for current information and instructions.
• Contact your office to determine the status of your work day or site.
• Obey any travel restrictions announced by local government authorities.
• Be prepared to "shelter in place" or evacuate if instructed to do so by local authorities.
• Provide volunteer services only as requested.

The current threat level can be found on the Department of Homeland Security Web site.

Family Disaster Plan

The first thing every individual and family should do is develop a disaster plan and assemble a disaster kit. The plan should cover such information as:

• What community warning signals sound like
• Whether emergency shelters allow pets
• What disaster plans are in place at family members' schools and workplaces
• Where to meet if family members become separated during an emergency
• An out-of-state family contact person
• How to shut of gas and water lines to the house
• Escape routes from the house
• How to use fire extinguishers

The plan should be practiced every few months to ensure that everyone is familiar with it.

Disaster Survival Kits

As part of the overall plan, families should assemble disaster kits. The disaster kit should contain enough water and non-perishable food for every family member for at least three days. The kit should also include:

• A first-aid kit
• Hand tools
• Cash or traveler's checks
• Personal hygiene items
• At least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person
• Extra glasses or contact lenses
• Prescription drugs
• Important family documents

Volunteering

One recommendation the Red Cross lists for several of the advisory system levels is volunteering with local agencies that respond to disasters. This training not only can help the community as a whole if a disaster situation occurs, but it can help individuals feel more capable of their abilities to respond to disasters of any kind.

There are many organizations from which you can choose when considering volunteering. The American Red Cross, of course, provides disaster relief services and offers classes both at military installations and in the community. Check with your local chapter for more information.

Another option is the Citizen Corps, one of several citizen-service organizations initiated by President Bush. The Citizen Corps is coordinated nationally by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; state Citizen Corps councils are coordinated by state emergency management agencies. Citizen Corps has several volunteer programs including Citizen Corps Councils, Neighborhood Watch Programs, Volunteers in Police Service, the Community Emergency Response Team and the Medical Reserve Corps.

A third option for volunteer organizations is the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Created in 1941, the Civil Air Patrol has a great deal of experience with emergency services missions. Homeland security operations are a new area of responsibility for this organization.

These are just a few examples of volunteer opportunities. Investigate your local community for other options. Even if you decide not to volunteer, disaster preparedness training you obtain from these or other organizations can be invaluable if a disaster or terrorist attack occurs. The important thing to know is that individual citizens are not helpless. There are things that can be done to prepare families and communities for a worst-case scenario. Developing disaster plans, assembling disaster kits and following the Red Cross' recommendations for actions to take at various terrorist threat levels are things that everyone can do to help ensure the safety of families, communities and the nation.

[Source: American Red Cross bulletin, Preparing for the Unexpected]