By Dan Horn and Emily Hagedorn
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Authorities in Greater Cincinnati beefed up security at government buildings, airports and other potential terrorist targets Monday in response to warnings from Washington.

The national threat level was raised to orange - or a "high" risk of attack - over the weekend after intelligence officials reported that terrorist cells might take action over the holiday season.

Although the threat was vague and did not involve targets in this area, authorities in Greater Cincinnati said they are not taking it lightly.

"We're going to maintain vigilance," said Sgt. Rick Zwayer, spokesman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol. "We have provisions in place to increase manpower as needed."

Although authorities were once unsure how to respond to an increased threat, most now have action plans that dictate what they will do every time the threat level rises or falls.

Some changes were evident Monday as people traveled, did Christmas shopping or returned to work for the first time since the threat level was raised.

• State troopers stepped up patrols around government buildings and began manning truck weigh stations around the clock.

• Security at office towers, parking garages and government buildings was noticeably tighter. Additional security and metal detectors were in place, and some entrances were closed to make it easier to monitor those coming and going.

• At the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, curbside check-in was halted and cars were stopped at random for searches.

• The FBI in Cincinnati set up a command center to field any calls or complaints that could be linked to possible terrorist activity.

"We make allowances for this kind of thing," said Jim Turgal, spokesman for the FBI in Cincinnati.

The tighter security was evident at airports, where travelers said they had noticed more checkpoints and, occasionally, more delays as they made their way across the country.

For the most part, though, people moved relatively quickly through the airports, both in Cincinnati and elsewhere. Some passengers said they were nervous about flying during the high alert.

"Definitely, security was tight," said Allison Romero, who arrived in Cincinnati on Monday from Washington Dulles International Airport. "Other passengers were wary."

Members of the Ohio Security Task Force met Monday for a briefing on the increased threat level and how the state is responding to it.

The task force acts as a liaison between the federal Department of Homeland Security and state and local authorities.

"We are working with local level first responders ... so Ohioans can enjoy a safe holiday," said Ohio Public Safety director Kenneth Morckel, chairman of the task force.

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Erica Solvig and Dave Eck contributed to this report. E-mail dhorn@enquirer.com