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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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February
2006
Volume
10 - Number 1 |
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Report on status and mission of the newly-formed
DHS Preparedness Directorate
By Olga Given Mission: The Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Directorate
is responsible for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared
for any situation. Preparedness addresses the full range of our capabilities
to prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terror or other disasters.
Preparedness is about securing America’s critical infrastructure.
The Preparedness Directorate strengthens our nation’s security through a multi-layered system of preparedness measures based on risk assessment and management. Working with state, local, and private sector partners, the directorate identifies threats, determines vulnerabilities, and targets resources where risk is greatest. Through grants and training on both national and local levels, the directorate fosters a layered system of protective measures to safeguard our borders, seaports, bridges and highways, and critical information systems. The Preparedness Directorate will also facilitate grants and oversee nationwide preparedness efforts supporting first responder training, citizen awareness, and public health, infrastructure and cyber security and ensure proper steps are taken to protect high-risk targets. The Preparedness Directorate will support FEMA with training resources and will continue to rely on FEMA’s subject matter expertise, as well as the expertise of other components in promoting preparedness. In Charge: George W. Foresman was nominated by President Bush on October 21, 2005, to be America’s First Under Secretary for the Preparedness Directorate at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Preparedness Directorate focuses on: • Cyber and Telecommunications has primary responsibility for working with other Federal agencies in completing comprehensive plans for executing our responsibilities to prevent and mitigate cyber based attacks. • Chief Medical Officer has primary responsibility for working with other Federal agencies in completing comprehensive plans for executing our responsibilities to prevent, coordinate and mitigate biologically based attacks. The Chief Medical Officer also serves as a principal liaison between DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and other key parts of the biomedical and public health communities. • Fire Administration reduces deaths and economic losses from fires and related emergencies through public education, training for fire protection personnel and enhanced technology. • Grants and Training assists states, local communities, regional authorities, and tribal jurisdictions to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorist and other threats to national security through funding, training, and exercises designed to increase preparedness and responsiveness. Assets of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness responsible for grants, training and exercises • Infrastructure Protection identifies and assesses current and future threats to the nation’s physical and informational infrastructure, issuing timely warnings to prevent damage to the infrastructure that supports our community and economic life. Person in charge: Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection • Office of National Capital Region Coordination oversees and coordinates Federal programs for and relationships with the National Capital Region to ensure adequate planning, information sharing, training, and execution of domestic preparedness activities. Grant Funding for Preparedness The FY 2006 Appropriations Act provides $4.0 billion for a Preparedness Directorate http://www.dhs.gov |