The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides extensive resources to assist state and local governments with planning and implementation of efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to and revocer from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic incidents.
LINKS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS & DOCUMENTS
FEMA: Most of the federal grant programs that support state and local homeland security preparedness are coordinated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
DOJ: The Department of Justice engages in several initiatives for combating terrorism in the United States (DOJ).
HSEEP: The Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides a standardized methodology for exercises. Any exercises planned or implemented with federal HSGP funds must utilize this methodology.
NIMS: The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is the federally-mandated incident management system that allows for standardization of response operations across the nation. Annual implementation requirements for state and local jurisdictions are allowing the system to be implemented in a coordinated but staged manner. The NIMSCAST tool allows jurisdictions to monitor their progress towards achieving the annual NIMS requirements.
NIPP: The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) was established to provide a common framework for the protection of critical infrastructure and key resources.
National Preparedness Guidelines: The National Preparedness Guidelines outline the overall DHS preparedness program. The document is supplemented by the Universal Task List and the Target Capabilities List (see below). The Guidelines establish a risk-based approach to preparedness, and encourage local officials to tailor their preparedness programs based on their community's unique risk profile.
NRF: The National Response Framework (NRF) is a guide that details how response to domestic incidents is to be coordinated. The NRF document and a great deal of supporting information is available through the NRF Resource Center.
TCL: The Target Capabilities List is a companion document to the National Preparedness Guidelines. The list outlines 37 capabilities associated prevention, protection against, response to or recovery from terrorist events or other disasters.
DHS-SPONSORED INFORMATION-SHARING RESOURCES
DHS sponsors a number of websites designed to facilitate information-sharing. Some of these include:
- FirstResponder.gov
- Homeland Security Digital Library
- LLIS.gov: Lessons Learned/Information Sharing (LLIS) is designed to facilitate secure sharing of best pactices among the response community.
- RKB: The Responder Knowledgebase (RKB) is probably best known as the site that hosts the Authorized Equipment List (or AEL), the list of equipment DHS allows states and local jurisdictions to purchase under the various grant programs. But the RKB also hosts
- SAVER: FEMA established the System Assessment and Validation for Responders (SAVER) program to assist response agencies in the selection of equipment. The program conducts unbiased operational tests, and the website repots the results in an accessible manner designed to share the information, and also reduce the costs that would be incurred if every single response organization were to conduct identical tests on the equipment.