The Latest from National Terror Alert Response Center

UK At Risk of Sea Borne Terror Attack Posted: 18 May 2009 08:38 PM PDT Britain is vulnerable to terrorist attack from the sea because no single body is responsible for protecting the UK’s coast, MPs have warned. Just nine Royal Navy ships along with a “motley collection” of police and coastguard boats guard a shoreline more than 7,000 miles long. The Commons defence committee suggests developing a “deterrent capability” to ward off sea-borne attacks. The Ministry of Defence has insisted clear procedures are in place. Concerns over the UK’s preparations for dealing with a maritime terrorist threat were raised by the committee. Reactive forces Its statement said: “We are concerned at the level of action being taken to address threats to aspects of national infrastructure such as ports. “What assets are available for maritime security tend to be reactive forces.” The statement continued: “There is a strong case for developing a deterrent capability in relation to threats to civilian maritime targets. "We are not satisfied that an intelligence-led approach is sufficient.” At present the Royal Navy has six warships, two patrol vessels and a support tanker protecting UK waters. They are backed up by 120 police boats, five coastguard patrol boats and five UK Border Agency vessels. But the Conservatives have called for a full review of the defensive capability. Read Full Article This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

NYC to Expand Emergency Notification System Posted: 18 May 2009 08:18 PM PDT After what New York City authorities are calling a successful terror drill over the weekend at the World Trade Center site, the city is moving to expand a “Notify NYC” system that alerts residents and businesses by e-mail, text message and telephone to emergencies either city wide or in a targeted area or borough. New York City is moving to expand a “Notify NYC” system that alerts residents and businesses by e-mail, text message and telephone to emergencies, including terror attacks, either city wide or in a targeted area or borough. Often called “reverse 911″ the system has been used or tested successfully in a number of other cities across the country as a way to move residents to safety in the face of natural calamities — hurricanes, flooding or dam collapse and is also intended to work in terror or other “man made” emergencies, officials say. In New York it has been successfully used, city officials say, in a pilot program across four neighborhoods. It was launched following the former Deustche Bank fire right off the site of Ground Zero. In that case residents did not know what was the source of smoke, or whether they needed to take shelter or evacuate. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

Flying Soon? Get Ready To Use Your Middle Name Posted: 18 May 2009 08:08 PM PDT Does your passport or driver’s license include a full middle name that y you normally don’t use? If so, you’ll have to include that name the next time you fly within the United States — and by December if you fly overseas. That new requirement seems to be sneaking up on a lot of unsuspecting travelers, and, apparently, unsuspecting airlines as well. The requirement comes from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the same friendly folks who brought you taking off your shoes in a security line and limiting your carry-on liquids. The idea is supposed to make it easier for travelers, airlines, and TSA to avoid ID confusion and hassles at airports. Because the master lists of questionable travelers are apparently in full- name format, TSA wants to make sure that travel documents conform to its list. The new requirement was supposed to go into effect on May 15 for domestic travel, but when I spoke to people in the industry (before May 15), some expected it to pushed back a month or so. Source This story comes to us via Homeland Security - National Terror Alert. National Terror Alert is America's trusted source for homeland security news and information. Share this post

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