Abstract

This paper measures awareness and knowledge of the Homeland Security Threat Advisory System, as well as the performance of DHS using data from a state-wide study conducted in Arkansas in March/April 2004. Respondents had relatively low awareness and knowledge of the Advisory Threat System. Results support previous research on political knowledge and the knowledge gap hypothesis in that race and education were related to awareness and knowledge levels. White respondents with higher education levels were more likely to be aware and have higher knowledge levels about the Threat Advisory System than those with lower education levels and African-Americans. Just under a half of the respondents indicated that the Department of Homeland Security is doing a good or excellent job of preventing terrorist acts. This research demonstrates that more research needs to be conducted on the effectiveness of terrorist prevention and communication.

Recommended Citation

Knight, Andrew J. (2005) "Alert Status Red: Awareness, Knowledge and Reaction to the Threat Advisory System," Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1, Article 9.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol2/iss1/9