Raised Alerts

What Are Raised Alerts?

Defcon Level tracks 14 commands: 11 official U.S. Combatant Commands and 3 monitoring commands (biological threats, natural disasters, and financial stability). Each carries an OSINT-estimated DEFCON readiness level from DEFCON 5 (normal peacetime) to DEFCON 1 (maximum readiness). When a command's estimated level is below DEFCON 5, it is considered "raised." This page shows only alerts from commands currently at raised status.

Alerts are grouped by priority. Breaking alerts cover fast-moving situations that may update within hours. Critical alerts address time-sensitive military or geopolitical developments with potential for escalation. High alerts track significant events affecting regional stability. Each alert is sourced from official statements, government public affairs offices, allied communications, and verified open-source intelligence.

The command grid below shows the current readiness level for every tracked command. The nuclear risk level is assessed separately from individual command readiness and appears below the command grid.

For all alerts including standard-priority updates from commands at normal readiness, visit the main Alerts page. For a breakdown of the indicators behind each command's current readiness estimate, see Raised Levels.

Energy Markets and Global Trade Corridors

CENTCOM's area of responsibility covers the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global petroleum liquids transit each year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. USPACOM's area of responsibility includes the South China Sea, through which an estimated one-third of global seaborne trade passes annually, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Together, these regions encompass several of the world's most significant maritime energy and trade corridors.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration tracks conditions in both regions as part of its global petroleum supply monitoring, publishing regular assessments of chokepoint risk for energy transit. CISA maintains a public advisory feed at cisa.gov covering active cyber threats to critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, transportation, and financial systems. Current commodity prices, defense sector data, and financial impact analysis are available on the Financial Alerts page.

Current OSINT-estimated DEFCON levels for all 14 tracked commands. Commands below DEFCON 5 are considered raised, reflecting open-source indicators that suggest elevated regional readiness. These are estimates, not official government data. Select any command for details and regional alerts.

Geographic Commands

3

AFRICOM

Africa Command

Raised

2

CENTCOM

Central Command

Raised

3

EUCOM

European Command

Raised

3

INDOPACOM

U.S. Pacific Command

Raised

3

NORTHCOM

Northern Command

Raised

2

SOUTHCOM

Southern Command

Raised

Functional Commands

2

CYBERCOM

Cyber Command

Raised

2

SOCOM

Special Operations Command

Raised

3

SPACECOM

Space Command

Raised

2

STRATCOM

Strategic Command

Raised

3

TRANSCOM

Transportation Command

Raised

3

BIOCOM

Bio Command

Raised

3

DISASTERCOM

Disaster Command

Raised

3

FINCOM

Financial Command

Raised

Civilian Readiness During Elevated Conditions

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that households maintain emergency supply kits covering a minimum of 72 hours of water, food, medications, and critical documents, as a baseline measure independent of current threat conditions. Ready.gov provides standardized checklists covering shelter-in-place procedures, evacuation planning, and family communication protocols. Supply chain status and preparedness guidance by threat level are available on the Preparedness page.

Emergency preparedness planning covers both physical supplies and financial readiness, including emergency fund sizing and insurance coverage for extended disruption scenarios. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides household financial preparedness guidance at consumerfinance.gov and recommends maintaining liquid reserves covering three to six months of essential expenses. Asset protection strategies and portfolio considerations during periods of geopolitical instability are covered on the Financial Readiness page.

Raised Readiness Alerts

The following alerts are from commands currently operating at elevated readiness (below DEFCON 5). Alerts are grouped by priority: Breaking, Critical, High, and Standard.

Raised Alerts: Frequently Asked Questions

What does raised command readiness mean for civilians?

Raised readiness on this site reflects OSINT indicators suggesting a command may be operating at elevated alert levels. It does not represent an official government declaration and does not indicate an imminent emergency. Civilians monitoring conditions can track official guidance through Ready.gov, cisa.gov, and the State Department's travel advisory system for affected regions.

How are readiness estimates calculated?

Readiness levels are OSINT estimates derived from official government statements, military public affairs releases, verified open-source reporting, and publicly available satellite imagery. They are not based on classified intelligence and do not represent official government assessments. The methodology behind site readiness estimates is described on the Current Level page.

How often do command readiness levels change?

Command readiness levels are updated when new OSINT indicators warrant a change. Some commands hold elevated readiness for extended periods tied to sustained regional conditions, while others fluctuate with specific events. The Raised Levels page provides trend data and recent changes for each tracked command.

How is the nuclear risk level different from command readiness?

The nuclear risk level is a site-wide OSINT estimate of global nuclear threat posture, assessed independently from individual command readiness levels. It reflects open-source indicators from nuclear-armed states, arms control treaty reporting, and publicly available strategic posture statements. Detailed coverage, including current assessment and historical context, is available on the Nuclear Threat Level page.

Where can I find official emergency guidance?

Primary civilian guidance sources include Ready.gov for general emergency preparedness, cisa.gov for cybersecurity and infrastructure advisories, and the State Department's travel advisory portal for region-specific alerts. The Department of Homeland Security's public advisory system covers domestic threat conditions, and FEMA's Emergency Management Institute provides training resources for community preparedness at training.fema.gov.

Related Pages

Monitor readiness conditions, financial market impact, cybersecurity threat activity, and emergency preparedness status across all commands and threat categories.