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National alert extended through New Year

Work continues Thursday at the site of the World Trade Center towers after fires were extinguished on Wednesday.

SUMMARY:

Terror -- from the skies, the mail and "non-specific" origins -- remains the focus on the home front as the Ground Zero death toll drops, federal officials extend the security threat deadline and health officials release new information about anthrax contamination.

UPDATE:

A national warning and corporate security advisory about possible terrorist attacks have been extended through January 2, CNN has learned.

A spokesman for Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said a national warning issued December 3 is continuing because the threat -- regarded as "credible but non-specific" -- still exists. (Full story)

A postal facility in the nation's capital that handled mail laced with anthrax was "terribly contaminated" with the deadly bacteria, even worse than authorities first believed, federal health officials said Thursday.

The extent of the contamination at the Brentwood postal facility was determined by additional tests at the now-closed site after four workers there developed inhalation anthrax. Two of them died.

The military announced Thursday that their decades-old drive to get holiday letters to the men and women of the armed services will continue -- assuredly anthrax free -- on OperationDearAbby.net.

The number of dead in the September 11 World Trade Center attacks fell to 2,954, officials said Thursday.

• Summary   • Update   • Key questions   • Who's who   • Victims   • Impact

REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS   •  Emergency information   •  Partial list of victims   •  Victims story archives

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

KEY QUESTIONS:

What effect will the delay in passing an economic stimulus bill have on the economy?

Should the federal government issue national security alerts in response to undisclosed, vague threats?

Are U.S. intelligence agencies better equipped to detect and prevent future homeland terrorist attacks?

What is the government doing to fortify homeland defense? Click here for more

What are tips to know in the wake of the attacks? Click here for more

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president Click here for more.

Laura Bush: First lady of the United States, she has become more visible since the terrorist attacks, making public appearances urging parents and teachers to help reassure children that everything is being done to try to keep them safe. Click here for more

Tom Ridge: Director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet-level position Click here for more

Richard Clarke: Head of efforts to safeguard information systems for the Office of Homeland Security Click here for more

Wayne Downing: Retired Army general tapped as deputy national security adviser Click here for more

Joe Allbaugh:The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Click here for more

Dr. David Satcher: Surgeon General of the United States

Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Click here for more

Rudy Giuliani: Mayor of New York Click here for more

Michael Bloomberg: Mayor-elect of New York

Anthony A. Williams: Mayor of Washington

Dr. Ivan Walks: Director of the Department of Health for the District of Columbia

Paul O'Neill: Treasury secretary

Norman Y. Mineta:Transportation secretary

Jane Garvey: FAA administrator

VICTIMS:

The latest figures provided by federal and local officials give the following numbers of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks:

WORLD TRADE CENTER: According to New York City officials, the death toll is 2,954 -- 2,391 people missing and presumed dead, including the 157 on the two hijacked planes -- and 563 bodies have been identified. The toll has been steadily shrinking for a variety of reasons, including duplicate reports and confusion in the hours and days immediately following the attack.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 missing and presumed dead

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The attacks of September 11 have sparked new debate about balancing the protection of U.S. citizens with the protection of the civil rights of those suspected of terrorism.

While the United States is proud of the freedoms and the legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution, authorities and many citizens have argued those people who seek to destroy America do not deserve such protections while they represent an ongoing threat to the country.

While those arguments continue, so do the threats against U.S. interests. Security remains high at airports, certain industries and many government facilities.