WASHINGTON?Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge said Monday a multistage alert system will provide “a common vocabulary” of danger to help communities all over the nation respond to threats.

Ridge, speaking to the National League of Cities, sought to bring local officials on board with the proposal, designed to provide more specific guidance when the government determines there is a new threat of terrorism.

The four broad terror alerts issued so far by the federal government have been criticized by local leaders and law enforcement for raising alarm without providing useful information.

A new five-stage system will identify specific threats based on received government information.

Ridge urged local officials to prepare their own anti terrorism plans and disregard the turf battles that historically have hampered coordination among different levels of government.