Federal officials raised the nation's terror alert level from "elevated" to "high" on Friday, calling on authorities and citizens to have increased vigilance against a possible terrorist attack.

The alert is the second-highest level on the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System and marks only the second time since since Sept. 11 that it has reached such levels.

The "high" alert extends down to state and local officials. Pennsylvania responded to the heightened awareness by activating its State Emergency Operations Center, April Hutcheson, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman, said.

The center's purpose is to direct county and local agencies in the event of an emergency, Hutcheson said. She added that because of the raised terror alert, the operation center will be partially, but not fully, staffed 24 hours a day.

As for local responders, Hutcheson said the state fire marshal has not issued any additional orders to the state's fire departments, but added first responders are always on a high alert.

"They are always going to respond whether we are in red, orange, green, or yellow," she said.

Penn State Police Services had no specific plans to change any procedures or policies when the alert was issued, Steve Shelow, Penn State police deputy director, said.

"I really don't see [the alert] changing what we do from day to day," Shelow said.

Basically, the alert for local law enforcement means they should be extra sensitive about certain information that could be related to a possible act of terrorism, he said.

Shelow said areas the Federal Bureau of Investigation asks to be monitored during these times, such as tall buildings and railway centers, don't exist on campus.

Security at large venues such as the Bryce Jordan Center should remain the same. Changes such as checking bags and not allowing large backpacks inside venues were already made after Sept. 11, Shelow said.

"Regardless of where we are at on the warning level, we would be doing this anyway," he said.

As is the case with other first responders, Shelow attributes the static level of security to a constant effort to be as prepared and vigilant as possible for acts of terrorism, he said. He said policies are constantly being reevaluated at all levels of law enforcement.

"You couldn't go to a Big Ten law enforcement conference and not have this come up," Shelow said.

Deputy Federal Security Director Ken Schleiden said security at the University Park Airport will also stay at the same level because screeners are already supposed to be as alert as possible. No new security precautions are planned as a result of the alert, he added.

Hutcheson said despite the efforts already being put forth by government officials, the most important thing for citizens is to keep an eye out for suspicious activity that could be connected to terrorism.

"People just need to be aware of what is going on in their community," Hutcheson said.