Threat level set at states' discretion
By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Hawai'i and other states have the discretion to set terrorism alerts independently of the Department of Homeland Security, a flexibility that state officials say they need to respond to specific security threats.
Associated Press
For the second time in the past two months, Hawai'i has chosen not to increase its alert status to follow the federal government, which raised its warning on Monday to orange — or "high" — because of the increased risk of attacks in retaliation for a U.S. invasion of Iraq.
National Guardsmen Jeremy Jennings, left, and David Vechil guard the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which is on "high" alert.
Hawai'i remains at blue — or "guarded" — although airports, shipping ports and other facilities where security is overseen by the federal government are at the orange alert level. In between orange and blue is the yellow, or "elevated," level.
"There was no new information that would indicate that Hawai'i has been targeted," said Maj. Charles Anthony, a spokesman for the state Department of Defense.
Brian Roehrkasse, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said yesterday that Hawai'i appears to be the only state that has not increased its alert status.
Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday that Hawai'i's terror alert level would likely be increased in the event of a war with Iraq.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday that raising the nation's threat level to orange was part of a comprehensive plan, called Operation Liberty Shield, to increase security and readiness across the country. He urged Americans to remain on the lookout for suspicious activity but not to panic.
New York City police established extra checkpoints at bridges and tunnels — where officers inspected driver's licenses — and patrolled newspaper and television network headquarters to discourage terrorist attacks.
In California, the highway patrol has doubled its forces at bridges, waterways and electrical grids. The state also deployed more than two dozen surveillance aircraft to patrol over important infrastructure and other sites around the clock.
The Federal Aviation Administration added new limitations to flights over a number of sports stadiums. It also tightened already severe flight restrictions in Washington and New York yesterday.
Most states have followed the federal government's recommendations, but some, like Hawai'i, have not. In February, with the federal government's threat level at orange, Hawai'i maintained its threat level two steps below at blue.
Utah stayed one step below at yellow in February because of the absence of a specific threat against the state. But on Monday, Utah officials decided to raise the state's level to orange.
"Obviously we're getting ready for an armed conflict with Iraq," said Chris Kramer, the public information officer for the Utah Department of Public Safety. "It was pretty simple."
In Hawai'i, Anthony said all states need the flexibility to determine threat levels independently. Simply increasing the warning for Hawai'i without a specific threat to the Islands could unnecessarily alarm residents or expend resources on additional security, he said.
"But this is not about money," Anthony said. "The No. 1 priority is the safety and security of the people of Hawai'i."
Advertiser staff writer Lynda Arakawa and the Washington Post contributed to this report.
