SEEING ORANGE

The Bush administration put the nation on Threat Condition Orange – the second-highest stage of terrorism alert – on Sept. 10. It was the first time the level was raised since the five-stage color-coded system was set up in March; it came on the eve of that awful anniversary and in response to intercepted “chatter” and to information gleaned from an al-Qaida operative in custody.

Federal agencies responded promptly and efficiently. Live anti-aircraft missiles were deployed around Washington for the first time in four decades and fighter-jet patrols were increased. More than a dozen embassies and consulates in hot spots around the world were shuttered. Security at borders, airports, seaports, nuclear power plants and other high-profile potential targets was tightened. Two commercial airliners were diverted during the day after flight crews reported suspicious activity by passengers; a foreign cargo ship was kept at sea after enhanced inspection detected traces of radioactivity.

In contrast to this evidence of thorough federal preparedness, a survey conducted a few days later by the National League of Cities found that more than three-fourths of cities still lack customized plans to respond to terrorism advisories. One in five don’t even understand what the color codes mean (red is for severe, orange for high, yellow for elevated, blue for guarded and green for low).

This is not to say that cities responded to the Orange Alert with a shrug. Increased security at public utilities was reported by 30 percent of all cities and 35 percent of larger cities. Increased security at public facilities such as schools was reported by 23 percent of all cities (35 percent of larger cities), and 19 percent issued local warnings (24 percent of larger cities).

This, however, is not the kind of concerted wartime effort Americans deserve. Imagine how much better the numbers would be if the federal warnings were accompanied by federal funds. Many local officials say they are constrained by tight budgets and wonder what’s become of the $657 million allocated by Congress for homeland security but that federal agencies have yet to distribute to the homeland.

The League of Cities survey found municipal leaders in widespread agreement on two central points. There is a disconnect between what cities and towns have the capacity to do and the unfunded expectations of Washington. The warning system, though quite specific in hue, is hopelessly vague regarding the nature of the threat – key local officials should be given enough information to know whether the potential target is a hydroelectric dam or a shopping mall. Unless the relevant federal agencies get the funds distributed and begin to take local officials into the loop, the terrorism alert system will remain, as one mayor said, “like the little boy who cried wolf – we did nothing because there was nothing we could do.”