Editing EMERGCON

{{Short description|United States readiness level}}
{{Refimprove|date=December 2014}}
'''EMERGCON''' ('''emergency condition''') is a state of readiness that is separate from [[DEFCON]], or defense readiness condition used by the [[United States]], in that it incorporates civilian measures in addition to the DEFCON military measures.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

==Overview==
Generally, EMERGCONs are a state of readiness following an [[ICBM]] (intercontinental ballistic missile) attack. Other forces go to DEFCON 1 during EMERGCONs. There are two types of EMERGCONs:

* '''Defense Emergency''': A major hostile attack on [[United States]] and/or allied forces overseas, and/or an overt action made against the United States. This must be confirmed by a unified commander or higher authority.
* '''Air Defense Emergency''': A major hostile attack by [[aircraft]] or [[missile]]s seems probable, is imminent, or is taking place on the continental United States, [[Canada]], or [[Greenland]]. This declaration is made by the Commander of the [[North American Aerospace Defense Command]] (NORAD).

Although the United States military has gone into defense readiness at various times (such as the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]), it has never had a major EMERGCON.

==See also==
* [[DEFCON]]
* [[LERTCON]]
* [[REDCON]]
* [[Alert state]]
* [[Information Operations Condition]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Alert measurement systems]]
[[Category:Military terminology of the United States]]


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