View source for EMERGCON

{{Short description|United States readiness level}}
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'''EMERGCON''' ('''emergency condition''') is a state of readiness that is separate from [[DEFCON]],<ref name="cesas">{{cite web |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130203232536/http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/em/CESAS500112.pdf |archive-date= 2013-02-03 |url= http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/em/CESAS500112.pdf |title= Emergency Action Plan (SEAP) |publisher= United States Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District (CESAS) Plan 500-1-12 |date= 1 August 2001 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SURFACE WARFARE OFFICERS SCHOOL COMMAND |url=https://man.fas.org/dod-101/navy/docs/swos/ops/72-13.html |access-date=2025-11-12 |website=man.fas.org}}</ref> 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 an 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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