The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
Jonathan Coggin
Liberty University
HLSC 610
Dr. Richards
08/12/2022
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
Abstract
This article will examine the relationship between national security and terrorism. The
exam is completed by reviewing all phases of U.S. terrorism emergency management activities.
The role of the emergency management profession is defined and described in the four
operational stages of the emergency management profession. The four operational phases of
emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. These four stages are
described as the life cycle of any type of natural disaster. Subcomponents of each phase will be
included in each discussion of the operational phases of emergency management. The sub-
components of the operational phase are: Prevention, Protection, Planning, Training, Evidence
Gathering, Emergency Services, Emotional Recovery, and Future Risks/Threats. Crisis and
aftermath management is briefly discussed in relation to emergency management. This document
is structured to provide a better understanding of emergency management and the important role
it plays in national security.
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
Right after the attack on September 11, 2001, society started to think about an ever-
increasingly and evolving threat of terrorism in the United States, the government called for the
Department of Homeland Security to outline a strategic framework to combat this form of
targeted violence. Although the department of DHS is made up of several components, each of
these is tasked in the preservation American way of life. The role of emergency management is
an increasingly vital piece of homeland security in the United States. "Emergency management is
a profession that specifies how to prevent or react successfully to various types of disasters"
(McEntire, 2019, p. 17). Within emergency management there are four operational stages and
various subcomponents of each stage, which can be thought of as the “disaster lifecycle”
(McEntire, 2019, p. 17). The steps that make up the role of national security emergency
management include mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. And every step has an
important role in the emergency management in the overall national security plan to combat
terrorist activity. The subcomponents of each operational phase highlight the specific role each
phase plays in the concept of emergency management. “A Commitment to Building Safer and
Less Vulnerable Communities to Respond to Risk and Natural Disasters” (McEntire, 2019, p.
19). These subcomponents include, but are not limited to, prevention, protection, planning,
education, evidence gathering, emergency services, emotional recovery, and future risks/threats.
There will also be a brief discussion of crisis management and its consequences, focusing on the
importance of the emergency management component to national security.
Mitigation
Mitigation is defined as “reducing loss of life and property through disaster mitigation”
(National Response Program 2019, p. 12). In other words, mitigation is measures to reduce or
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
prevent natural disasters. Terror mitigation can be described in two terms closely related to
national security operations. Prevention and protection. Counter-terrorism includes counter-
terrorism operations such as intelligence gathering, military operations, and border control.
Protection combines strategies to prevent terrorist activity and mitigate the impact of an attack
through infrastructure and security. These are called structured and unstructured mitigation
strategies. Structural mitigation is specifically the infrastructure, practices, and materials used in
construction to reduce the impact of terrorist attacks. Some examples of this strategy are
explosion-proof glass on government buildings, gates and doors that must be locked (mechanical
or electronic), use of reinforcement in concrete buildings, sprinklers or fireproof materials to
prevent the spread of fire and use ventilation to prevent or prevent the spread of hazardous
materials (McEntire, 2019). Non-structural mitigation strategies are methods that go beyond
infrastructure and build integrity, to deter terrorist activity in the region. Examples of non-
structural mitigation strategies are developing site/area regulations, use of security guards and
guard dogs, setback requirements, background checks of staff to prevent Terrorist interception
from internal sources and identity badges (McEntire, 2019). Risk assessment is also used during
the homeland security mitigation phase of counterterrorism operations. Risk assessment such as
threat assessment of targets can be attractive to terrorists. These goals can be called soft targets
and these include festivals, sporting events, where large numbers of people gather, open
accessibility, and minimal security. The agency primarily responsible for threat identification is
the FBI, although additional partners in their area of expertise (Departments of Agriculture,
Energy, Treasury, Interior) can help assess risks and filter them by state and local authorities.
authorities.
Preparedness
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
Preparation is preparation for potential attacks. “Terrorism and targeted violence are
difficult to predict, and empowering communities against them is in our control.” (DHS
Strategies to Combat Terrorism and Targeted Violence framework, 2019, p. 28). Preparation
requires everyone involved. It is a collective responsibility, not just a government. A
subcomponent of readiness is community planning, training and exercises, or scenarios.
Activating readiness sustains the core capabilities deployed to prevent, protect, mitigate,
respond, and recover from terrorist attacks (DHS Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism
and Targeted Violence, 2019). Examples of preparedness subcomponents include enabling and
strengthening soft target security, technology upgrades to counter cyber threats and infrastructure
security, specific terrorist attacks (weapons of mass destruction threats, mass casualties,
Sagittarius, etc.).
Response
The response phase can be defined as the immediate response to a disaster or scenario,
such as a terrorist attack. Response to terrorist attacks is the deployment of first responders. First
responders are made up of various official government agencies, including police, fire brigade,
and emergency medical personnel. First responders stabilize situations, save lives, and prevent
and protect against future attacks after an incident has already occurred. Evidence and further
medical care can be provided after an incident occurs and it is contained. Communication at all
levels: federal, state, local, tribal
Recovery
Recovery begins during the response phase and continues for weeks, months, and even
years after the incident. As seen after the September 11, 2001 terrorist plane crash at the Twin
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
Towers. The recovery phase is not only for cleaning up and recovering from the physical
damage caused by the attack, but also for maintaining emotional recovery and the threat of
another attack. To understand the severity of the incident and take appropriate measures, it is
necessary to conduct a damage assessment. Damage assessment becomes a review of physical
destruction, economic loss, loss of life, social disruption, and the assets needed for response and
recovery (McEntire, 2019). Certain damage assessments include rapid, preliminary, and technical
assessments. A rapid damage assessment is used to paint a “picture” of the situation on the
ground to address immediate needs and obtain additional assistance. A preliminary damage
assessment is a more detailed assessment that is conducted days or weeks after the incident and
can be used to determine exactly what external assistance is required. A technical damage
assessment is the method and cost of reconstruction. This assessment can lead to better designs
that consider threats and future hazards. In addition to restoration work, we must also consider
disaster declarations, mass casualties, and debris disposal. Declaration of a disaster means that an
external response and recovery is required, plus funds are allocated for relief efforts. Mass death
management is part of an incident where the number of casualties requiring treatment, collection,
identification and burial outnumbers people. Finally, debris management is the removal,
disposal, storage, and recycling of debris generated as a result of terrorist attacks (McEntire,
2019). As an aid to funding, "Once a homeland security threat (natural or man-made) has been
identified and addressed, other threats will evolve, requiring new homeland security capabilities
or processes... funding Procurement amounts are for natural disasters and their costs (Reese,
2016, p.17). Another important issue to address is the emotional impact of terrorist attacks and
disasters. This applies not only to civilians, wounded and family members, but also to first
responders. Everyone is affected in their own way, but some are affected more than others.
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
Therefore, anyone who has experienced a traumatic event should seek crisis counseling. Crisis
counseling is the treatment of mental health problems caused by stress (McEntire, 2019). These
can take the form of severe accidental stress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Addressing these issues can be complemented by actively listening, understanding, and
supporting those affected.
Crisis Management and Consequence Management
Homeland security risk management is concerned with identifying, predicting,
preventing, and prosecuting those involved in terrorist activities. Results management is a
component of emergency management that focuses on planning, first responders, medical and
public health, disaster relief, and community recovery (McEntire, 2019). Since its inception,
Homeland Securities has focused on crisis management and downplayed the need for emergency
management and operational phases of preparedness, response and recovery. It is critical to
implement both crisis management and results management to avoid coordination difficulties and
ensure that counter-terrorism operations succeed in the mitigation, preparedness, response, and
recovery processes.
Conclusion
In summary, the world will see more and more sophisticated, organized and violent
attacks. Technological advances such as guns and social media, and an increase in soft targets
such as festivals and sporting events, to give examples of power multipliers, prove this theory to
be true. Refining and applying emergency management strategies with a coordinated approach to
homeland security is therefore critical to today's counterterrorism. This comprehensive
framework prevents and mitigates vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks.
The Nexus of Homeland Security and Terrorism
References
Department of Homeland Security Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted
Violence. (2019, September). Retrieved fromhttps://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/
publications/19_0920_plcy_strategic-framework-countering-terrorism-targetedviolence.pdf.
McEntire, D. A. (2019). Introduction to homeland security: understanding terrorism prevention
and emergency management (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
National Response Framework (2019). (4th ed.). Retrieved from
https://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/assets/documents/117791.
National Strategy for Counterterrorism of the United States of America. (2018, October).
Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NSCT.pdf.
Nctc. (2019). (JCAT) Intelligence Guide for First Responders. Retrieved from
https://www.dni.gov/nctc/jcat/jcat_ctguide/intel_guide.html.
Reese, S. (2016, October 28). Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Grants: A
Summary and Issues. Retrieved from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R44669.pdf.
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