For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
November 10, 2004

Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the U.S. government has lowered the threat level for the financial services sector in New York City, Northern New Jersey and Washington, D.C. from ‘high’or Code Orange to ‘elevated’or Code Yellow. Since the threat level was raised on August 1, 2004 state and local leaders as well as the private sector have worked hard to strengthen security in and around specific buildings and locations as well as throughout the financial services sector. Today there are permanent protective measures in place that did not exist before August 1. These new measures include increased security at the affected buildings, enhanced screening measures, increased perimeter protection and the development of security buffer zone protection plans. The financial services sector as also taken additional steps to strengthen emergency preparedness and response by improving communications systems and protocols between and among financial regulators and critical financial institutions; assessing and reviewing business continuity plans; and participating in numerous drills and exercises to test backup systems and prepare financial professionals.  

Although the threat level is being lowered for the financial services sector in these three cities, the country remains at an elevated risk for terrorist attack.  The United States Government will continue on a daily basis to monitor and analyze threat information and share that information, together with appropriate protective measures, with state, local and private sector authorities as well as the general public as part of the ongoing national effort to prevent terrorist attacks and protect the country.

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