Week 6 Homeland Security
Hello, professor and classmates
The Strategic National Risk Assessment allows risk analysis and better understanding from the federal level all the way down to local communities in efforts to form a foundation of security and resilience in the event of a natural disaster. According to the Strategic National Risk Assessment (2011), the consequences associated with six categories of harm: loss of life, injuries and illnesses, direct economic costs, social displacement, psychological distress, and environmental impact (Strategic National Risk Assessment, 2011). The technological/ accidental threat analysis on page 3 suggests that biological and food contamination, followed by chemical spills, damn failure, and radiological release as the greatest risk. All of these threats would be devastating and are probable threats to the United States, but the protective measures that are in place to prevent these threats from happening offset the likelihood of it happening. However, I feel that a chemical spill, damn failure, and radiological release are more susceptible from terrorist attacks on these facilities or critical infrastructures than accidental release or human error. Adversarial or human caused threats are based on the vulnerabilities associated by terrorist attacks and cyber threats. The threats stated in the SNRA are similar to the ones stated by the DHS in the World Threat Analysis are similar and practical, but the threats stated are out of order from using aircraft as a weapon has been successful in the past is not as practical today due to increased security measures and processes. The last threat stated that is assumed to be least probable is a radiological terrorist attack that uses radiation exposure devices. This threat should be more probable from non-state actors and is not listed in the WTA’s as one of the threats stated in the weapons of mass destruction risks to the United States. The WTA states WMD threats from well established state actors, their methods of delivery that violate treaties, and newly established non-state actors and their capabilities.
The ranking of natural threats and hazards since 2006 are logical, but not in the correct order from first animal disease and outbreak being the greatest risk and most dangerous, to wildfires being the least risk. The most probable natural disaster would be flooding, hurricane, and wildfires because they inevitably occur each year, cause the most damage, and cost the most economic loss. Most of the other natural threats should be treated as if they could occur at any time and have response and recovery procedures in place for if and when they do occur. Natural events do not affect everyone at the same time, but are specific to a particular geographical area therefore, efforts should be available where those specific threats are prominent.
Chds. (2019, February 08). Annotated Worldwide Threat Assessment 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://www.chds.us/ed/items/18167
The Strategic National Risk Assessment in Support of PPD 8: A Comprehensive Risk-Based Approach toward a Secure and Resilient Nation. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/rma-strategic-national-risk-assessment-ppd8.pdf