When the Secretary of Homeland Security issues an elevated or imminent alert, the following steps should be taken:

Personnel Security:

• Brief your employees to report suspicious incidents or events.
• Post the Nation's Threat Level in the Driver's room or other public area.
• Convene a brief security meeting when the Threat Level increases and review security plans and tips with employees.
• Make sure all employees handling or transporting hazardous materials have adequate communication devices in case of emergency. Test these systems.
• If you have a management crisis team, verify their 24/7 contact information and place them on "ready alert."
• Assure that all employees have proper and up-to-date identification.
• Assure that company personnel monitor news and other information sources for events or changes in conditions and respond as appropriate.
• Review Driver Anti-terrorism Tips list.

Facility Security:

• Cooperate with federal or local law enforcement officials concerning security checks or safety checks.
• Restrict the availability of information related to your facility and employees, and the materials you handle.
• Restrict access to a single entry or gate. Control who enters and leaves your facility, if possible. Require visitors to show photo identification and have someone accompany visitors at all times.
• Add security guards and increase off-hours patrols by security or law enforcement officials.
• Reduce your internal tolerance for "security anomalies," such as overdue or missing vehicles, perimeter of physical plant intrusions, unverified visitors, evidence of tampering and the like,
• Install additional security systems on areas containing hazardous materials, if needed.
• Do not preload hazardous materials shipments.
• Require employees to display identification cards or badges while at the facility.
• Conduct spot checks of personnel and vehicles.
• Test your emergency response communications systems.
• Upgrade security procedures for pick-ups and deliveries. Verify all paperwork and require pick-up and delivery appointments from known vendors. Require pick-up drivers to provide driver's name and vehicle number- confirm with vendor. Accept deliveries in designated areas only.
• Confirm legitimacy of new vendors though listings in phone book or industry publications, websites or references.
• Secure hazardous materials in locked buildings or fenced areas. Have a sign-out system for keys.
• Secure valves, manways, and other fixtures on transportation equipment when not in use. Secure all rail, truck, and barge containers when stored at your location.
• Use tamper-resistant or tamper-evident seals and locks on cargo compartment openings.
• Maintain current inventories of on-site hazardous materials and check account for shortages or discrepancies.

En Route Security:

• Verify identify of carrier or driver prior to hazardous materials loading. Ask driver for photo identification and compare with information provided by carrier.
• Ask the driver to tell you the name of the consignee and the destination for the material and confirm with your records before releasing shipments.
• Identify preferred and alternated routing, including acceptable deviations. Make sure routing complies with local routing restrictions.
• If possible, alternate routes to frequent destinations.
• Minimize exposure in downtown or heavily populated areas and expedite the shipment to the final destination.
• Minimize stops en route; if you must stop, select locations with adequate lighting on well-traveled roads and avoid high-crime or dangerous areas.
• If materials are stored during transportation, make sure storage facilities are secure.
• Train drivers how to avoid hijackings or theft of property- keep vehicles locked when parked and avoid conversation on open channels or with strangers about route, cargo, and destinations.
• Consider an escort or guard for high-hazard shipments (e.g. explosives, radioactive materials, or inhalation hazard toxics).
• Consider using advanced technology to track or protect your cargo en route to their destination (i.e., satellite tracking systems, anti-theft systems for trailers and tractors and surveillance systems). GPS tracking systems should relay updates more frequently.
• Install tamper-proof seals on all valves and package or container openings.
• Implement a system for a customer to alert the shipper if a hazardous materials shipment is not received when expected.
• When products are delivered, check the carrier's identity with shipping documents provided by the shipper.
• Get to know your customers and their hazardous materials programs. If you suspect you shipped or delivered a hazardous material to someone who may intend to use it for a criminal activity, notify your local FBI office or local law enforcement officials.

Report any suspicious or unusual behavior or incidents to your local law enforcement officials.