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Homeland Security Overview
Thomas Brooks
Foundation of Homeland Security
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Homeland Security Overview
Homeland Security
Homeland Security is defined as the protection of the United States against threats and
hazards. The Department of Homeland Security is tasked with the duty and obligation to ensure
protection and safety of the homeland and citizens. DHS was created on November 25, 2002
after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. DHS has implemented a mission statement that
focus on the prevention of terrorism, security enhancement, management and security of U.S.
Borders, regulations and enforcement of immigration laws, cyber security, and build resiliency to
disasters. Homeland Security through emergency management has created phases and elements
to disaster management (Nemeth, 2016). There are several agencies that assist DHS in ensuring
the security of our homeland. Some of those agencies include U.S. Customs and Border Patrol,
U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services,
Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Secret Service, and many other agencies (Nemeth,
2016).
Threats and hazards presents themselves in many forms to include natural and man-made
disasters. These threats are and hazards are defined as known and unknown dangers to society
and our homeland. To prevent, reduce, and recover from those threats and hazards homeland
security incorporated four major components of homeland security and disaster management.
The four major elements of homeland security disaster management include mitigation,
preparedness, response, and recovery (Nemeth, 2016). Each of these elements play a role in the
pre-incident, incident, and post-incident phase of a disaster. The goal of the four elements are to
reduce the impact the disasters have on the community and homeland as a whole. They also
assist with properly handling the disaster after impact. Any threat to homeland and national
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security must began with these four steps, depending on the severity of threat and hazard will
warrant greater attention to those steps. Each of these steps has its own specific task to aid the
success of the mission of homeland security.
Mitigation
Mitigation is utilized throughout the series of a disaster or threat. This means that
methods of mitigation is found through all cycles of the threat that include pre-threat, the attack,
and post-threat/attack. Homeland security and their supporting agencies often apply mitigation
methods from learning from previous disaster results. Mitigation methods are designed to reduce
and eliminate the risk of a threat or disaster. Through mitigation, the effects of a disaster or threat
are less impactful to the population (FEMA, 2006). There are two types of mitigation methods
which are structural and non-structural mitigation. Structural mitigation methods are physical
measures implemented in order to reduce or eliminate a threat or disaster. An example of
structural mitigation include the building of dams to regulate water flow to decrease flooding.
Non-structural mitigation methods are measures used through non-physical arrangements to
reduce or eliminate threats and risk (FEMA, 2006). Building codes and the enforcement of those
codes are examples of nonstructural mitigation. Building codes are enhanced and developed
based on previous disaster, anticipated threats/hazards, and after development of new technology
so buildings and structures can withstand threats and attacks.
Homeland Security and emergency management created an all hazards approach to aid
the preparedness and mitigation of disasters. The all hazards approach is a theory and process
that can be utilized for all disasters and hazards. This theory and practice provides a baseline on
how to handle all disasters. Risk assessments are a major part throughout a disaster. To properly
address hazards, risk assessments must be completed by using a free risk assessment tool
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available online. I would identify agency personnel who need to be part of the risk assessment
and obtain their input on how hazards may affect their role in the agency (FEMA, 2006). A risk
is identified as an asset value multiplied by the level of threat multiplied by the level of
vulnerability. A risk assessment is a method used to identify hazards and understand how those
hazards may potentially impact our homeland.
Preparedness
According to (Phillips 2016): Preparedness is defined as the range of deliberate, critical
tasks and activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the operational capability to prevent,
protect against, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents. Preparedness is intended to aid
in the reduction of effect of a hazard or threat established through mitigation. Preparedness is
accomplished in five levels. These five levels include life safety, public education, infrastructure
protection, continuity of business, and property protection. Preparedness must be accomplished
from all levels to establish effective homeland security preparedness. Individuals, households,
agencies and organizations as well as government and private entities all have a unique part in
preparedness. Preparedness methods are competed before a disaster and often times directly after
the disaster or threat (FEMA, 2006). During the preparedness phase there are several risk
assessments that are constantly completed as well as government practices established to aid
agencies and organizations in preparedness. Preparedness differs for all parties involved but
each party has a task in that aids each other. There are levels of preparedness depending on the
threat, hazards, and target this range is evaluated from low to high. The Department of Homeland
Security has implemented several programs and platforms that help agencies and organizations
on the state, local, and federal level operate before, during, and after an event. The National
Response Framework (NRF), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Incident
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Command System (ICS) are in place to benefit homeland security and other agency stakeholders
in its effectiveness to be uniformed in preparedness of threats and disasters.
The NRF provides the configuration and tools for national-level strategy and working
direction for domestic incident management. The National Response Framework is built from
NIMS and its goal is to assist with the development of community plans, joining continuity
plans, developing response capabilities and resources to reduce business failures, and to ensure
the stabilization of resources and services for the affected community (FEMA, 2019). It permits
advantageous interplay amongst a number of federal, state, and local government and
nongovernment organizations.
NIMS is a platform that is utilized nationwide to plan, prepare, and respond to disaster
events. Regardless of the disaster or threat if NIMS is properly utilized and implemented it can
be effective for the preparation, response, and recovery of all incidents (FEMA, 2017). NIMS is
tasked with improving communication, support, and unity among different organizations who
have a common goal. Preparedness is critical for powerful incident and emergency control and
entails undertaking a non-stop series of planning, organizing, and teaching, equipping,
exercising, assessing, and taking helpful motion to reap and preserve readiness to reply to
emergencies. As such, the NIMS Preparedness Component serves as a starting position idea that
hyperlinks all of the NIMS Components (FEMA, 2017). Preparedness spans jurisdictions,
governments, businesses and corporations.
ICS is a standardized guide to the management of all incidents or major events. ICS
allows individuals or organizations the ability to incorporate structure among several incidents
without interference from the limitations of jurisdictions. ICS can be utilized for predictable or
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scheduled events. ICS is developed based on 5 major functions which are Incident Command,
Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. Unified Command is a resources
that is developed from ICS (FEMA, 2018). This practice is utilized when multiple agencies have
a role and obligation to an incident. Uniform command unites leaders from agencies to form
goals, objectives, task, and create a plan for the response to an incident (FEMA, 2018).
Response
Response occurs in three stages, when the disaster is about to happen, during the disaster,
and immediately after. The response phase is where the implementation of the preparedness and
mitigation phases are conducted. The first response to disasters of threats is a rapid assessment.
This assessment helps identifies the life needs that the effected population needs immediately.
This reduces death, extreme economic loss, and secondary hazards. Once the assessment is
properly conducted, responders can prioritize where to respond and what resources from the
preparedness plan should be activated (FEMA, 2006). Although they are often developed in the
mitigation and preparedness phase, warning systems are important in the response phase.
Warning systems in the response phase must take into consideration that some methods and
equipment may be damaged or unavailable. Federal laws and policies like the Stafford Act can
initiated during this response phase. This declaration is a resources that the State’s Governor
enact to create extra resources for the community.
Recovery
The recovery segment of homeland security is focused on transporting order and
procedures back into the affected community after a disaster or event. The recovery stage begins
in two phases, directly after the incident and during the response. Recovery takes place in long
term and short term form. Longer term recovery is known as a process that reestablishes the
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economic structure within the affected community. Short term recovery is the process that
develops and brings back the stability and life needs within the community. Short term recovery
is often in the form of power, water, food, transportation, communication, and shelter (FEMA,
2006).
Recovery can be intimidating to and agency, organization and community the event has
affected. There are many difficulties with establishing and maintaining funds and resources. The
biggest aid to recovery is the planning, and mitigation phases of disaster management.
Identifying threats and hazards is a key way to ensure that proper resources are made available
during the recovery phase because it is much harder to obtain resources that are not pre-
established that it would be if systems and funds are in place (Phillips et al., 2017). Disaster
events cause great economic loss, when recovery methods are not effective and efficient the
economic losses become far greater and makes recovery from those loses much more difficult.
Server damage can lead to soil, water, wildlife, and vegetation contamination (Phillips et al.,
2017).
Resilience is the capacity to be maneuver with your environment. Resilience in
emergency management/ homeland security is important due to the unexpected destruction
disasters have on the affected population. As plans and resources fail, have delays, or are being
resilient helps save lives (Phillips et al., 2017). Community engagement is the ignition towards
resilience. Community engagement transpires in the planning stage and development of policies
with concentration towards increasing public and private healthcare and education, and
collaboration with available resources. Isaiah 54:7 reads “No weapon that is formed against thee
shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This
is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, faith the Lord (Kings
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James Bible, 2022).” This scripture explains how resilience can be utilized. It explains that
nothing that we face even what is unexpected will overtake us.
Conclusion
In conclusion, homeland security has developed a culture and standard that prepares all
citizens, agencies, and organization with the resources to arm themselves with tools to protect
themselves from threats and hazards. Although it is the responsibility of the Department of
Homeland Security to secure the homeland, we as citizens and other agencies and organizations
have the duty in our part and with that being doing it makes things easier for those. The security
of our homeland not only protects our safety but also the economics of the country. The most
important phases of homeland security disaster management is preparedness and response. How
we prepare and how we respond to the inevitable is key to survival. According to (English
Standard Version Bible, 2001, Luke 21:36): “Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be
strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
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References
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
FEMA. (2017, October). National Incident Management System.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_nims_doctrine-2017.pdf
FEMA. (2019, October). National Response Framework.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/NRF_FINALApproved_2011028.pdf
FEMA. (2006, February). Principles of Emergency Management.
https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/downloads/is230.pdf
FEMA. (2018, March). ICS Review Document.
https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/assets/ics%20review%20document.pdf
Nemeth, C.P. P. (2016). Homeland Security (3rd Edition). Taylor & Francis.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781498749121 (Links to an external site.) (Links to an
external site.)
Phillips, B. D., Neal, D. M., & Webb, G. R. (2016). Introduction to Emergency Management
(2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781315394688
