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News Release

HHS RESPONDS TO INCREASED THREAT LEVEL

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that the department would take a series of actions in response to the nation's threat level moving to orange, the second highest level of the Homeland Security Advisory System.

"As the lead federal agency for health and medical services, the Department of Health and Human Services makes the health and safety of all Americans our highest priority. With today's increase of the threat level to orange, we are redoubling our commitment to protecting the well being of families across America and are aggressively preparing to respond to a terrorist incident anywhere in America.

"HHS took the following steps when the threat level was raised:

• Placed the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Readiness Force on alert status.
• Alerted emergency support and management teams for potential deployment.
• Increased operational hours at all HHS Emergency Operations Centers to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Instituted higher levels of security and surveillance at all HHS facilities.
• Ensured continuity of operations plans are ready to be quickly implemented.

"Our experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration are prepared to provide quick and comprehensive assistance to any community in the country.

"Additionally, we will work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to effectively and efficiently coordinate any response to any incident. Our command center at the HHS headquarters is staffed around the clock to coordinate all of our preparation activities with the Department of Homeland Security."

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: March 18, 2003