Paper ESF 13

Local law enforcement is the first-line of defense against terrorism and nefarious agents that wish to harm U.S. persons and interests. Based on the 9/11 Commission’s findings, Congress specifically created the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE)(DHS.GOV 2016). OSLLE has two, overarching responsibilities regarding homeland security. First, the organization leads and coordinates DHS policies aimed at “preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disaster” at the local, state, or territorial level(DHS.GOV 2016). Second, it is tasked with serving as a liaison between DHS and local and state law enforcement departments and agencies throughout the U.S(DHS.GOV 2016). Experts note that

The assistance provided for the purpose of helping the victims of a disaster rebuild their homes to the same living conditions they had lived in before the disaster, FEMA assisted 130,000 middle income and low income families rebuild after the Northridge earthquake (Eugene, 2010). FEMA also assisted with the coordinated the response of 27 federal agencies that were involved in the recovery process. The FEMA United States Fire Administration student manual “ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents” (2013) refers to this type of command structure within the Incident Command System is defined as a “Unified Command”. The Unified Command type of management system allows for multiple agencies to work together to plan and strategize but most importantly to be able to collect resources from each agency without having to go through extra steps. This coordination was said to have had a huge benefit by being able to get the funding for repairs and to be able to decrease the time frames set to repair and rebuild the infrastructure (highways and roadways) needed to the get the city moving again. (DeBlasio et al,.

The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for “consolidating existing federal government response plans into a single, coordinated national response plan.” (GAO Reports. 2007.) The Homeland Security Act of 2002 allows them to handle all sorts of disasters from natural disasters to terrorist attacks. DHS also “Operates the Federal

On October 14, 2012, ATF Public Information Officer Alexandria Corneiro and ATF Special Agent Whitney Hameth, came to speak to our class about The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, also known as ATF. They began by introducing themselves and explaining to us the geographical area in which ATF is responsible for. As of right now their field office is in Dublin Ca.; however, they are responsible for ATF field offices in all Northern California, as well as, Nevada. The main ATF Headquarters is in Washington, DC., and there are field offices stationed throughout the United States. ATF trains and employ special agents to investigate violations of Federal Law involving alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson. This profession commands a certain type of individual; therefoe, one must be in outstanding mental and physical shape; in addition, train rigorously, to, operate in stressful situations.

After September 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland of Security was formed in response to the terrorist attacks. Out of the birth of the agencies formed, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) was created to allow clear allocation of resources and a systematic approach to emergency management. The system can be effective in many responses where many levels of government and response are imminent to respond to the disaster. Many of these agencies are emergency management, police, fire, health, and EMS from all levels of government. NIMS can be used on any type of incident and of any size or scope in nature.

The whole world observed as the administration responders appeared incapable to provide essential protection from the effects of nature. The deprived response results from a failure to accomplish a number of risk factors (Moynihan, 2009). The dangers of a major hurricane striking New Orleans had been measured, and there was sufficient warning of the threat of Katrina that announcements of emergency were made days in advance of landfall (Moynihan, 2009). Nonetheless, the responders were unsuccessful to change this information into a level of preparation suitable with the possibility of the approaching disaster. Federal responders failed to recognize the need to more actively engage (Moynihan, 2009). These improvements include improved ability to provide support to states and tribes ahead of a disaster; developed a national disaster recovery strategy to guide recovery efforts after major disasters and emergencies; and the Establishment of Incident Management Assistance Teams in which these full time, rapid response teams are able to deploy within two hours and arrive at an incident within 12 hours to support the local incident commander (FEMA,

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would become the central point-of-contact within the national government in responding to incidents. Since formation in 1979, FEMA’s core missions were to enhance the government’s ability to survive a foreign attack, and to assist state and local authorities in disaster response (Carafano, 2005). And while the two core missions seem heterogenous in scope at times from an outside perspective, the biggest difference between the two tasks is duration. A man-made disaster may be over in a matter of minutes as compared to a hurricane lasting several days, but in both instances the road to recovery is long. In order to streamline response and recovery in either scenario, FEMA was reorganized with new directives to support comprehensive emergency management practices (CRS, 2006). Today, FEMA provides the standard approach and guidance that many local communities may not have due to funding, training, and

Ensuring Resilience to Disasters has more tasking’s than another mission and involves many different agencies to accomplish those tasks. The four tasks are to mitigate hazards, enhance preparedness, ensure effective emergency response, and rapidly recover. The main agency that is responsible for these tasking’s is FEMA. FEMA’s mission is to “reduce the loss of life and property and protect communities nationwide from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters” (FEMA, 2017, p.2). FEMA works with federal and State services to assist them in accomplishing their goals. They also assist local services by assisting in setting up emergency management agencies (LEMA) and set guidance for Emergency Operations Planning (EOP). EOP’s are “plans that provide an overview of the jurisdiction’s preparedness and response strategies. It describes expected hazards, outlines agency roles and responsibilities, and explains how the jurisdiction keeps the plan current.” (FEMA, 2010,

Many Americans watching the Government response to Hurricanes Rita and Katrina as it play out in the media could not believe the finger pointing that was going on between our elected leaders as many victims struggled to get their life in order. With the National Response Framework initial responsibility remains with the local elected officials and each level of the government above that will monitor and remain ready with assistance if requested. This will allow needed resources to get where they are needed without the internal bickering of the past. The Emergency Support Function Annexes within the National Response Framework ensures multi-agency interoperability and encompasses the other components of the NRF.

This program is the Department of Homeland Security’s final priority to “plan, train, and equip police, fire, and paramedics to react successfully to terrorism; and promotes recovery with the assistance of disaster specialists.” (Homeland Security, 2015) One of the examples of disaster specialists that help assist in disasters like Hurricane Katrina is the Federal Emergency Management Agency also known as FEMA. FEMA helps communities with reducing their risk, helps its different agency officials prepare for all types of hazards, and also helps people in communities get back on their

has aided the NSA and FBI in identifying and intercepting terrorist plots in the past. Following

The National Incident Management System is a systematic guideline on how to effectively plan, mitigate, respond and recover, from significant incidences especially those that encompass diverse interest and involves all levels of governments. It works hand in hand with the National Response Framework, which provides structure for incident management while NIMS provide the guide for all departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work flawlessly during incident management to reduce loss of life and property (U. S. Department of Homeland Security, 2008). The core aspect of the National Incident Management System during incident response is the Incident Command System (ICS),

State and local responders formulate the concepts within the FRP around disasters and emergencies that can be handled “the Federal Government is called on to provide supplemental assistance when the consequences of a disaster exceed State and local capabilities” (p.11). If assistance is required by State, and local agencies, the Federal Government has the ability to deploy a wide range of assets to aid state and local efforts during the disaster. The Federal Government has a large contingency of support personnel, teams, operating facilities, specialized equipment, and assistance programs that allow for disaster operations. “The FRP describes the major components of the system, as well as the structure for coordinating Federal response and recovery actions necessary to address State-identified requirements and priorities”

As Director of Homeland Security my function is to pull together, evaluate, preserve and circulate data that will support local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, administration agencies, and private sector to identify, avert, thwarting while preparing for the response and recovery from hazards and threats of terrorist circumstances, as pursuant to O.R.C § 5502.03 (The Library of Congress, 2007). I’ve include information which I believe will help assist each department head present to better understand homeland security function and responsibility to ensure the security of our city. Also include is the legal basis for

Police departments need to develop contingency plans and backup systems to ensure that they can continue to operate and protect the community during the post-disaster recovery period. Furthermore, the police role in terrorism and disasters recovery is secondary; Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, other charitable organizations, insurance companies, private businesses, state and local governments, and individuals have a primary responsibility for community and economic recovery. Moreover, Police were required to support the all-hazards homeland security mission with additional and enhanced equipment and training. Also, as a guide to homeland security, the police adopted a dual process, which they should have everyday uses and emergency uses; and regional cooperation should guide purchasing of the most expensive and specialized equipment. Department of Homeland Security raised new training requirements; established a Target Capabilities list that identifies what emergency responders and other will need to do in various types of disasters; and funded the development and delivery of homeland security related training for police and others, in addition to setting up a training portal. Continual training needs are planning for terrorism,