Iowa law enforcement officials got prompt notification when national leaders today raised the nation’s terror alert from yellow to orange — the second highest level. State patrol spokesman Lieutenant Rob Hansen says the notification came via a communications system already in place. Other information comes to different places in the country depending on where it’s important. He says a variety of agencies go into action when the alert is raised. The D-C-I, fire marshal’s office, narcotics enforcement, all work together to have policies and procedures in place and when a threat level’s raised or lowered they work together — Hansen says they’re meeting today or tomorrow to ensure they implement all those procedures. That information’s not given out to the public, except for data that will help people stay safe. Hansen says it’s too early to tell whether the Orange Alert level will have any effect on highway patrol’s staffing or effectiveness of other state public-safety employees.
Iowa's Radio News Network
