COLLINS Homeland Security Overview.pdf

Homeland Security Overview 1

Homeland Security Overview

Jacob M. Collins

School of Criminal Justice, Liberty University

Author Note

Jacob M. Collins

I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jacob M. Collins.

Email: jmcollins18@liberty.edu

Table of Contents

Mitigation ........................................................................................................................... 10

Preparedness ...................................................................................................................... 10

Recovery ............................................................................................................................ 11

Response ............................................................................................................................ 11

Bible ............................................................................................................................................... 23

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 29

Keywords: Homeland Security, disaster, mitigation, preparedness, recovery, response

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In November 2002, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act which created

Department of Homeland Security. he Department of Homeland Security’s main objectives are to

improve and secure the United States of America. The Department of Homeland Security does this

by emergency response to natural and manmade disasters, antiterrorism work, customs, border,

and immigration, cyber security, and law enforcement (). Understanding what Homeland

Security’s mission is will help as we move into understand how the Department of Homeland

having a National Response Framework, a national Incident Management System, and an

Incident Command System. After preparedness, is the recovery aspect of Homeland Security.

This would be how Homeland Security helps the nation recover after a disaster. Finally,

Homeland Security has response, which is how they respond to all threats against the U.S. These

are the main way that the Department of Homeland Security protects our nation.

Disasters and attacks can come at any time and attack us in so many ways that we have

never imaged. Terrorist attacks and disasters were two of the main threats that faced the U.S;

however, we have seen an uptick in cyber-attacks and are now seeing this is one of the greatest

threats to the U.S. The question becomes how we mitigate these threats so that the people and

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Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, and the Boston Marathon attacks, these attacks are planned

out and can occur anywhere at any time (Ashwin, 2022). The organizers of these events and

security do everything they can to keep people safe; however, it is difficult to predict or mitigate

every single threat. You must do the best you can and try to prepare for the most likely scenario.

For instance, if you look at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival Shooting in Las Vegas.

No one could have predicted an individual would have started to shoot into the crowd from the

32nd floor of a hotel located approximately 500 yards away. The most likely scenario for a mass

casualty attack would have been a potential suicide bomber, a bomb like what was seen at the

Boston Marathon Attack, or someone in the crowd shooting at people. Steps were taken to

mitigate the risks, but you cannot predict all the risks. So, the question becomes how do we

potential attacks. Homeland Security must do this for as many events as they can to try to protect

as many people as possible. Unfortunately, not every event can be protected, but by using

evidence based researched and understanding risk management many organizers of events and

many local businesses use the Homeland Security model to try to mitigate the risk.

Another tool that Homeland Security uses to help them with mitigation is intelligence and

intelligence sharing. Homeland Security does this by having the Intelligence Fusion Center

(IFC), which allows federal, state, local, and tribal agencies the ability to share information

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During the traffic stop, they discovered material that could be used to make a bomb, so they

report the information to the IFC. Homeland Security can take that information and pass it out to

all the law enforcement partners working the Super Bowl, as well as security. They can take

more steps to mitigate potential threats and attacks since they know the Super Bowl is a potential

target for an attack. This means they can conduct more bag checks, push the security check

points out to a farther distance, do more random security sweeps, check vehicles, etc. All more

steps that Homeland Security can take to mitigate the threats. Once mitigate is working the next

thing to look at would be preparedness.

Preparedness

Being prepared for not if but when disaster or terrorist attack occurs is crucial to make

Management System (NIMS) to identify key roles and responsibilities as well as the command

and management structures for response activities (FEMA, 2016).

Homeland Security also uses the Incident Command System to help with preparedness.

This system “provides a structure to enable agencies with different legal, jurisdictional, and

functional responsibilities to coordinate, plan, and interact effectively on scene” (FEMA, 2016).

This means that every responding agency can work together to help prepare for the disaster. This

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way for preparedness when a disaster strikes. When FEMA prepares for a disaster, they do not

prepare in a vacuum, they get many experts, stakeholders, and community leaders into a room so

they can prepare. They figure out what they need to do before the disaster strikes, such as settling

emergency shelters, getting stockpiles of food, water, clothes. etc., fill sandbags to try to stop the

storm surge, and other tasks to make sure the community is prepared (Squier, 2023). Homeland

Security also provides free online tools to help everyone be prepare for disasters (Squier, 2023).

This one of the keys to making sure that you and your family can survive.

Preparing for disasters seems somewhat easy, because most of the time you can prepare

for it, such as hurricanes. Some disasters are harder to prepare for because you do not know

when they will strike like an earthquake. But taking steps to make sure the community is ready

risk the more you can try to take proactive steps to mitigate the threat. Since mitigation and

preparedness have been explained, recovery is the next piece.

mitigate the threat and we were prepared, now it is time for recovery. According to Sylves,

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understand recovery, let’s looking again at recovery from a natural disaster and Homeland

Security.

the main organization in Homeland Security that aid and assist when it comes to natural disasters.

They can move in large groups of volunteers, non-profit organizations, and other that come in to

help the community recover from disasters. Typically, they aid by leading the command center and

help to ensure aid is distributed to the right people. They also relay on the states for support and

the Governor of the state may call in the National Guard. The National Guard along with

Homeland Security have been instrumental in ensure that many towns, cities, and states recovery

from natural disasters (Jara, 2019). Many times, money is not the problem when it comes to

does not stop a week after a disaster or a month after a disaster but it a continual process. Since

mitigation, preparedness, and recovery have been discussed, it’s time to go over response.

Security do to this effective and efficiently they rely on a few key documents such as NIMS and

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(Thornburg, 2019). Response is a disaster requires multiple agencies and partners working

together to be efficient and effect to help the community get put back together.

states. You can see powerline trucks, tractor trailers, emergency response vehicles, and emergency

response personnel flood into the area days before the hurricane is expected to make land fall.

These organization get together and plan out their attack plan once the hurricane pass through.

This means they are prepared to get critical infrastructure up and running quickly, as well as

designate area for aid distribution to ensure the people are provided for after the disaster. Without

the volunteers and the organizations working together, the country would have difficult time

recovering from a disaster.

town, etc., but without your protector, God/Homeland Security it useless because it will fall.

Homeland Security protects the people, property, and infrastructure when disaster or

emergencies occur. Homeland Security is there to help mitigate threats, prepare individuals for

the threats, respond to the threat, and are there to help people recovery. This is what Psalm 127

is saying that you need to have this type of organization/protect present to stand guard and be

there to help the community.

Conclusion