Threat-level terror alert system powers down

>>> and there's another change tonight from the government. this one concerning the most routinely ignored guidelines of the modern era . that color coded threat level system is going away and being replaszed by a new system the government is hoping will be taken more seriously. that's a story by pete williams .

>> today we nounce the homeland security advisory system .

>>> color coded alerts were intended to indicate changes in the severity of the threat.

>> we're now at high risk .

>> inunited states government is raising the threat level .

>> raising the threat level to our highest level of alert, severe, or red.

>>> after changing the threat color 16 times, the government concluded the system was usef fuful mainly to late-night comics.

>> a color coded threat advisory six m you'll want to consult every morning to match sure your outfit matches your dread.

>> so they announced a new system of streamline alerts. they'll beish aooed at two levels, elevate, and imminent when it's specific about a target and suggests an attack could come seen. the homeland security expert said they will provide specifics.

>> how you can help, what you need to do to stay prepared, what you need to do to stay informed.

>> they'll also be tailored to the information. what cities could be affected, for example, or targets like hotels or shopping malls , and they'll automatically ecpire two weeks after the issue. no threat, no alert, just reminders to remain vigilant. a longtime critic of the color codes who pushed for the change said it's about time.

>> when you went to the airport and said the color code is orange, you had no idea what to do, so it really was a system that had become almost absolutely useless.

>> and the new alerts will be issued much more widely on facebook and twitter.

>> you can almost hear people barking at their tvs sometimes. the question remains the same as the last ten years. how do we act under elevated that we wouldn't do under imminent?

>> elevated, they might say there's a threat against big-city parks. you might want to know about that, do what you want to do. if they can be more specific, they'll say there's a threat against this park in this city. or if you're on i-noisk, watch out for a white van with this license plate. they can't always give those details.

>> pete williams , thanks.