The new terror alert system used to inform the public of terror threats, has received an upgrade, and that upgrade was unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Wednesday.

Gone is the familiar five-layer, green-to-red, color-coded system that was introduced during the Bush administration following the 9-11 attacks, and set aside in 2011 to be replaced by the two-tier alert system. In their place, is a three tier alert system with an added alert “bulletin.”

Johnson pointed out during the unveiling that that Homeland Security knew of no specific information of a threat to the United States, but he had issued the first bulletin warning of a “new phase in the global threat environment.” He added that that threat had “implications to the homeland.” Bulletins, such as the one issued yesterday will remain in effect for six month, meaning that the current bulletin will expire in June.

“We want to put in one place for the public to see what we are seeing concerning the homeland, what we are doing about it and what the public can do about it,” Johnson said. He said the Homeland Security agency “is especially concerned that terrorist-inspired individuals and homegrown violent extremists may be encouraged or inspired to target public events or places.” 

In a message to Americans on Thursday following a lengthy meeting with the full contingent of the administration’s national security team, President Obama repeated the statement by Johnson and said that authorities are not aware of any specific threat currently, but called on Americans to stay vigilant.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

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