The "Power of Hello" initiative by CISA and DHS emphasizes employee vigilance in identifying and reporting suspicious activities to prevent terrorism and criminal threats. The core approach is the OHNO method, which consists of four steps:
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OBSERVE: Employees should stay alert to their surroundings and recognize suspicious behaviors, such as placing abandoned packages, unusual surveillance, unauthorized access, loitering, avoiding security, or threats of violence.
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INITIATE A HELLO: Engaging with suspicious individuals through friendly gestures (e.g., smiling, introducing oneself, asking if they need help) can deter potential threats. Active listening is key, but employees should also weigh risks and report activities to authorities when necessary.
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NAVIGATE THE RISK: Evaluate observed behavior to determine if it is threatening or suspicious. Key questions include: Are they patronizing the business legitimately? Do their actions align with the context (e.g., clothing, questions about operations)? If threatened, employees should calmly disengage and call 9-1-1.
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OBTAIN HELP: After assessing the risk, employees should report suspicious activities to management or law enforcement. The 5W’s (What, Who, Where, When, Why) can help organize information for effective reporting. Non-emergency reports should also be submitted to local authorities.
The initiative underscores that reasonable suspicion must be based on factual evidence, not protected activities like race, religion, or gender. The "If You See Something, Say Something®" campaign further reinforces the importance of reporting terrorism-related indicators.
