DHS simplifies threat warning system

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced in January that the DHS will drop its color-coded threat advisory system. The Bush-era system will be eliminated in the next several months and replaced by a two-tier warning system that identifies threats as "imminent" or "elevated." These will be accompanied by a precise description of the threat concern, along with information and recommendations for citizens to take in view of the potential threat.

Napolitano highlighted the alerts her agency issued last year regarding terroristsπ plans for Europe to illustrate the approach and information to be provided by the agency in the future. The current threat-alert color–yellow–has remained unchanged since 2006.