Local residents who plan to fly during the near future should be prepared to arrive a little earlier at the airport.

In light of a Dec. 25 incident, the Transportation Security Administration is beefing up security measures, but doesn’t discourage residents from traveling.

According to Lauren Matson, spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, TSA is encouraging people to continue their travel.

Still, Matson said the TSA advises people to be cautious.

“Do remain observant of your surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement officials,” she said.

For flights inside the U.S., the TSA says there is no need to do anything differently than usual when preparing for checkpoint security procedures.

“They will, however, notice additional security measures in place,” Matson said. “This simply means passengers need to arrive at the airport even earlier to give them extra time to check in and proceed through the security checkpoint.”

TSA does advise that passengers traveling on international flights to U.S. destinations allow extra time for security and arrive an additional hour earlier.

Matson said it’s important for passengers to understand that increased security measures will not look the same at all airports. If passengers have questions about what to expect and what they can or cannot take in checked baggage or carry-on baggage, they can visit www.tsa.gov.