As a result of the U.S. terror alert rising to orange, representatives from agencies ranging from the Police, Fire, Water Management and Aviation Departments to Mayor Daley’s office will staff the Joint Operations Center from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., officials said. The center’s hours may lengthen if a terror threat becomes more tangible.
Other steps the city is taking include having more uniformed police patrol key locations such as downtown and the Jardine Water Purification Plant just north of Navy Pier. Towing of illegally parked cars may also increase, Langford said.
Holiday travelers at Chicago’s two airports, O’Hare International and Midway, can expect to see an increase in police foot patrols and canine units, said Monique Bond, spokeswoman for the city Department of Aviation.
Travelers need not arrive for flights earlier than the two-hour window now recommended, Bond said.
