Buncombe County Homeland Security: Business Actions

Low
Guarded
Elevated
High
Severe
rollover a color to view the recommended business actions for each threat level.

Low Condition (Green) declared when there is a low risk of terrorist attacks

Consider taking the following actions:

  • Announce Threat Condition LOW.
  • Conduct threat vulnerability assessment.
  • Develop Mutual Aid agreements.
  • Review and develop Emergency Operations and Emergency Response Plans.
  • Ensure provisions for continuity of government.
  • Conduct training, seminars, workshops, and exercises using the Emergency Operations Plans and business resumption plans.
  • Conduct emergency preparedness training for citizens, employees and workers’ families.
  • Encourage response agencies (fire fighters, law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, public works and elected officials) to take emergency management and American Red Cross First Aid and CPR training.
  • Provide emergency preparedness information to employees.
  • Establish local information sharing network to ensure proper agencies are receiving pertinent information.
  • Conduct routine inventories of emergency supplies.
  • Budget for physical security measures.
  • Encourage programs for employee immunization and preventive health care.
  • Encourage and assist employees to be prepared for personal, natural, technological, and homeland security emergencies.
  • Review information protection measures to ensure proper security measures are being utilized for the collection,
    storage, and transmission of information.
  • Review communications capabilities and upgrade to allow for efficient and effective communications.
  • Ensure redundancy for cyber information systems.

Guarded Condition (Blue) declared when there is a general risk of terrorist attacks

Continue all precautions from lower Threat Conditions and consider taking the following actions:

  • Announce Threat Condition GUARDED.
  • Review communications plans and ensure the call-down procedures are current and accurate.
  • Conduct tabletop, functional, or full-scale exercises to ensure response plans are operational and current.
  • Ensure all emergency management and response functions are adequately staffed. Recruit and train volunteers to augment full time staff.
  • Support the Neighborhood Watch, Community Emergency Response Team, Amateur Radio Emergency Service and other volunteer groups and programs.
  • Report suspicious activities and call 9-1-1 for immediate response.
  • Public Information Office, in coordination with other public safety agencies and public media, develop a system to routinely notify the public of terrorism related information. Educate the public on the threat warning levels.

Elevated Condition (Yellow) declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks

Continue all precautions from lower Threat Conditions and consider taking the following actions:

  • Announce Threat Condition ELEVATED.
  • Review physical security plans for critical facilities.
  • Conduct physical inspection of buildings and parking areas for suspicious packages or articles left unattended.
  • Train employees to recognize suspicious packages and activity in their area.
  • Monitor current news including state and federal threat advisories.
  • Keep the public informed on current threat conditions and advisories.
  • Maintain and monitor communications and warning systems.
  • Ensure all access to public buildings and other critical infrastructure is controlled and access is restricted through a secure identification process.
  • Check personnel recall roster and recall process for accuracy.

HIGH Condition (Orange) declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks

Continue all precautions from lower Threat Conditions and consider taking the following actions:

  • Announce Threat Condition HIGH.
  • Restrict or control access to government buildings, critical facilities, and infrastructure.
  • Maintain a heightened sense of awareness while responding to, or working at incident scenes.
  • Communicate and coordinate with local agencies to review roles and responsibilities.
  • Activate Emergency Operations Center if warranted.
  • Require identification, sign-in, and escorts as required.
  • Restrict parking areas located close to buildings or critical facilities.
  • Remove trash containers, dumpsters, and mailboxes located near government buildings and facilities.
  • Identify any planned community events where a large attendance is anticipated. Consider recommendations to address the event as warranted by the current situation.
  • Monitor intelligence data from state and local law enforcement agencies to aid in prevention and detection actions.
  • Instruct employees to be especially watchful for suspicious packages and articles received through the mail service.
  • Implement rumor control to avoid public panic.
  • Enhance security at airports, dams, public utilities, and critical facilities.
  • Ensure emergency vehicles are attended at all times, whenever possible, and properly secured when not attended.
  • Secure and regularly inspect all buildings, vehicles, and parking and storage areas for intrusion.
  • Conduct 100% verification of deliveries and restrict shipments.
  • Supplement intelligence resources to elevate the early detection and reporting of terrorist related information.
  • Implement Mutual Aid Agreements as needed.
  • Cancel or delay unnecessary employee travel and leave.
  • Provide 24/7 staffing as needed for detection, prevention, public information, continuity of government, continuity of operations, and other emergency management activities.

Severe Condition (Red) reflects a severe risk of terrorist attacks.

Continue all precautions from lower Threat Conditions and consider taking the following actions:

  • Announce Threat Condition SEVERE
  • Consider a local declaration to authorize activation of the local Emergency Management system.
  • Deny unauthorized access to critical facilities and infrastructure. Continue 100% inspections of personnel, vehicles, and packages.
  • Deploy assets and ensure physical security measures be afforded them at critical sites.
  • Control access routes serving critical infrastructure facilities and evacuation routes.
  • Assemble trained volunteers to include, but not limited to: Community Emergency Response Teams, Radio
    Amateur Civil Emergency Service, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Salvation Army, Hearts with Hande, and the American Red Cross.
  • Implement Mutual Aid Agreements as needed.
  • Continue to assess the vulnerability of key assets and facilities and appropriate action to protect them.
  • Activate the Emergency Operations Center.
  • Establish Incident Command System / Unified Command System.
  • Identify staging area(s) as needed.
  • Coordinate release of information to the public and news media through a Public Information Officer.
  • Place Emergency Services, Specialized Response Teams, and critical resources on standby.
  • Consider the possibility of a secondary attack / device.
  • Maintain a minimum staffing of essential employees.