Department of Homeland Security and Rural America

The branch of the United States Government that is directed “to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur” (National Priorities Project, 2007). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) achieves these directives through an organization of agencies that collaborate with other the federal agencies, state and local governments, and tribes. In addition, DHS supports these partnerships through federal grants and local programs for Americans from metropolitan areas to rural towns so everyone may acquire preparedness education and training.

Organization and National Strategy

In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. Government formed the Department of Homeland Security which became official on March 1, 2002. The bureau consists of five mission areas: border and transportation security; domestic counterterrorism; protection of critical infrastructure and assets; defense against catastrophic threats; and emergency preparedness and response. The Department of Homeland Security directs the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Figure 1 shows the organization structure.

When the Department of Homeland Security was created in 2002, the government brought together all the government-wide activities related to homeland security that were performed by agencies directly under the department and other agencies outside the department. Likewise, some activities within the department were considered non-homeland security activities, but supported the mission of homeland security. For example, FEMA provided disaster relief, the Coast Guard maintained marine safety and navigation support, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided immigration services. This consolidation of activities allowed the government to distribute funding from one government department. Figure 2 shows the activities and financial distribution of department funding.

The national strategy for the DHS guides, organizes, and unifies the activities that are shared by federal agencies and provides the framework for four goals. First, the DHS is charged to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks; second, it protects the American people, critical infrastructure, and key resources; third, the DHS responds to and recovers from incidents that do occur; and fourth, it continues to strengthen the foundations to ensure the nation’s long-term success (DHS 2007b).

Department of Homeland Security Agencies: Service to the Public The Department of Homeland Security has seven agencies that focus their efforts on the four strategic goals. Each agency has designated responsibilities and a budget for employees to accomplish these directives that provide a service to American citizens and immigrants.

Department of Homeland Security Organizational Chart

Source: DHS 2008d.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The Transportation Security Administration is responsible to protect the transportation system and ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce. Established on November 19, 2001, the TSA maintains strategies to secure the open travel environments of aviation, rail, mass transit, highway, pipeline, and port systems. These systems include approximately 775 million passengers traveling on buses each year, and over nine billion passenger trips on mass transit per year; over 140,000 miles of railroad (of which 120,000 miles are privately owned); 3.8 million miles of roads (46,717 miles of Interstate highway and 114,700 miles of National Highway System roads), 582 bridges over 20 feet of span, 54 tunnels over 500 meters in length, and nearly 2.2 million miles of pipeline; and nearly 800,000 shipments of hazardous materials transported every day (95% by truck). The TSA employs 50,173 full time employees nationwide that partner with the public to enhance security awareness in the transportation system and increase mission performance.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible to protect the sovereign borders of the United States at and between official ports of entry. Established in 2003, CBP maintains 48,551 employees to secure U.S. borders and protect the American public against terrorists and instruments of terror. Likewise, the CBP protects economic security by regulating and facilitating the lawful movement of goods and persons across U.S. borders. Each year, CBP comes into contact with over 500 million persons crossing the borders through the ports of entry, and with tens of thousands of shippers, drivers, pilots, and importers associated with more than 31.1 million trade entries processed. CBP also maintains a constant vigilance of U.S. borders to ensure travelers and goods move safely and efficiently across the borders and that immigrants and visitors are properly documented. Moreover, CPB serves the public by ensuring customs, immigration and trade laws, regulations, and agreements are enforced.

U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service serves and provides immigrants to the U.S. accurate and useful information, granting immigration and citizenship benefits, promoting an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensuring the integrity of the system. Established in 2003, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service maintains 10,714 full-time employees that are responsible for granting or denying immigration benefits to individuals seeking to reside or work in the United States. The federal agency consists of 250 field offices, Application Support Centers, Service Centers, Asylum offices, National Customer Service Call (NCSC) Centers, Forms Centers, and the Internet. Agency employees assist immigrants to collect, process, and grant benefits which range from employment authorization documents, to asylee and refugee status, to classification as an immediate relative for the purpose of immigration to the United States, and U.S. citizenship.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative agency of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration, and Customs Enforcement. Established in 2003, the ICE aggressively uses powerful immigration and customs authorities to protect the American people from illegal introduction of good and the entry of terrorists and other criminals seeking to cross U.S. borders. The mission of the ICE is to protect the U.S. and uphold public safety by targeting the people, money, and materials that support terrorist and criminal activities. The ICE protects and serves the U.S. public by deterring, interdicting, and investigating threats arising from the movement of people and good into and out of the United States, as well as securing federal government facilities across the nation.

U.S. Secret Service. The U.S. Secret Service is responsible to protect the past and present president, vice president; members of their immediate families; visiting heads of state/government; and distinguished foreign visitors. Established in 1865, the U.S. Secret Service protects the grounds of the White House and other official building in the District of Columbia. The U.S. Secret Service also implements operational security plans for designated National Special Security Events and investigates any fraudulent actions related to national currency, telecommunications, computer, telemarketing, and financial institutions. Service to the public includes protecting the leaders of the nation, ensuring the security of the nation’s financial systems, and protecting the nation’s cyber infrastructure.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Established in 1979, FEMA maintains 6,651 full-time employees that are located at the headquarters in Washington, DC, 10 regional offices, and deploys federal agents to disaster sites to implement FEMA’s operations. Additional responsibilities include administering grant programs for the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Fire Administration. These grants ensure federal, state, tribal, and local government personnel and authorities a unified and coordinated all-hazards approach to preparedness and response capabilities.

U.S. Coast Guard. The Revenue Marine was established in 1790 and changed the name in 1915 to the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The USCG is one of five armed services for the U.S. and under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security. The USCG maintains 6,726 civilian employees, 41,398 Military Service employees, 8,100 additional Military Selected Reserve personnel, and 31,900 additional Auxiliary personnel. The mission of the USCG is to protect and ensure maritime safety, security and stewardship of U.S. population, natural and economic resources, territories against internal and external threats. The USCG serves the public by protecting U.S. ports, inland waterways, coastlines, international waters, and any region where U.S. interests may be at risk (DHS 2008a).

Department of Homeland Security: Grant Programs and Partnerships

The mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Grant Program is to enhance the ability of state, local, and tribal governments to prepare, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks and other disasters through five grant programs. These programs promote, establish, and maintain federal, state, local, and tribal partnerships that ensure a consistent level of protection for U.S. citizens against terrorism and disasters.

Urban Areas Security Initiate Program. The Urban Areas Security Initiate Program (UASI) focuses on the unique planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas. It assists urban areas in building sustainable capacity to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from acts of terrorism. In 2007, 45 urban areas received funding based on analysis of risk and the effectiveness of proposed plans. The first tier of cities identified as high threats were Bay Area (CA), Chicago Area (IL), Houston Area (TX), Los Angeles/Long Beach Area (CA), National Capital Region (DC), New York City/Northern New Jersey Area (New York City Area and Jersey City/Newark Area). The FY 2008 budget for Urban Areas Security Initiate Program is $781.6 million.

Figure 2. Source: National Priorities Project, 2007.

State Homeland Security Program (SHSP). The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) provides funds to build capabilities at the State and local levels through planning, equipment training, and exercise activities. The SHSP supports the implementation of state homeland security strategies and key elements of the national preparedness architecture, including the National Preparedness Goal, the National Incident Management System, and the National Response Plan. All 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands are eligible to receive SHSP funding with the remainder dispersed on based on their risk and effectiveness of proposed planning, training, and exercise activities. FY 2008 Budget for State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is $862.9 million.

Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program. The Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP) provides resources to law enforcement and public safety communities to support critical terrorism prevention activities and promote the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with non-law enforcement partners and private sector. All 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands are eligible to receive SHSP funding based on their risk and effectiveness of proposed planning, training, and exercise activities. FY 2008 Budget for Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program is 25 percent of SHSP and UASI funding.

Metropolitan Medical Response System Program. The Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS) supports local preparedness efforts to respond to all-hazards mass casualty incidents, including CBRNE terrorism, epidemic disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and large-scale hazardous materials incidents. In the past, 124 cities qualified for MMRS funding to establish and sustain local capabilities. All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, receive a minimum amount of funding based on population-share basis. FY 2008 Budget for Metropolitan Medical Response SystemProgram is $39.8 million.

Citizens Corps Program. The Citizen Corps Program (CCP) brings community and government leaders together to coordinate community involvement in emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery. All 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands receive a minimum amount of funding with the remainder dispersed on based on population-share basis. FY 2008 Budget for Citizens Corps Program is $14.5 million. (Available at: http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs) (DHS 2008e).

Community Volunteer Programs

After the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, Americans wanted to be involved in their communities to help their fellow Americans, but did not know where to direct their efforts. The Department of Homeland Security developed community programs where citizens could participate in public outreach, training, and volunteer service. These volunteer organizations enable citizens to join together in a nationwide effort to help other Americans. Citizens living in rural settings are encouraged to learn preparedness skills to protect themselves and their families in the event a disaster prevents them from traveling to shelter. For information about these programs, contact the county emergency manager or visit the DHS Internet website at: http://www.ready.gov.

Community Emergency Response Team Program. The Community Emergency Response Team Program (CERT) is administered by FEMA’s Community Preparedness Division. Citizens receive training that prepares them to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors in the event of a disaster in their community. Through CERT, citizens learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. With this training, volunteer can provide critical support by giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene. CERT volunteers also support the community year-round by participating in community preparedness outreach activities distributing materials on disaster preparedness and education. (Available at: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/index.shtm.)

Fire Corps Program. The Fire Corps Program promotes the use of citizen volunteers to support and augment the capacity of resource-constrained fire and emergency service departments at all levels; volunteer, combination, and career. Fire Corps is funded through the Department of Homeland Security and is managed and implemented through a partnership between the National Volunteer Fire Council and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and with direction from the National Advisory Committee, a group of 15 national organizations representing the fire and emergency services, to provide the program with strategic direction and important feedback from the field. (Available at: http://www.firecorps.org.)

Medical Reserve Corps Program. The Medical Reserve Corps Program (MRC) reports directly to the Surgeon General of the U.S. in the Department of Health and Human Services. MRC strives to improve the health and safety of communities across the country by organizing and utilizing public health, medical, and other volunteer who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Volunteer MRC units accomplish this mission by supplementing existing emergency and public health resources during local emergencies and other times of community need. (Available at: http://www.medicalreservecorps. gov.)

USAonWatch.org. USAonWatch is the face of the National Neighborhood Watch Program. The program is managed nationally by the National Sheriffs’ Association in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, and U.S. Department of Justice. Time-tested practices such as “eyes-andears” training and target-hardening techniques continue to be at the core of the program. As groups continue to grow, the roles of citizens have become more multifaceted and tailored to local needs. USAonWatch empowers citizens to become active in homeland security efforts through community participation. USAon- Watch provides information, training, technical support, and resources to local law enforcement agencies and citizens. (Available at: http://www.usaonwatch. org.)

Volunteers in Police Service Program. The volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) serves as a gateway to information for law enforcement agencies and citizens interested in law enforcement volunteer programs. The program’s ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement agencies by incorporating the time and skills that volunteers can contribute to a community law enforcement agency. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) manages the VIPS Program in partnership with an on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Department of Justice. (Available at: www.policevolunteers.org.) (DHS 2007a).

Summary

The Department of Homeland (DHS) administers grants and coordinates with other federal agencies to provide programs for U.S. citizens and immigrants. These programs educate and empower Americans to receive training that will prepare them to respond to disasters and emergencies within their own communities. Since the devastation of September 11, 2001 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the federal government endeavors to foster a partnership between Americans from rural locations to metropolitan areas to enhance preparedness for families, neighbors, and communities through education, training, and exercises. DHS encourages Americans to prepare an emergency supply kit; make a family emergency plan; and be informed about the kinds of emergencies that can happen in their area and the appropriate responses.

— Vicki Miller

See also

Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation; Emergency Management Professionals; Rural Emergency Response and Recovery; Rural Emergency Management Programs; Terrorism; Weather

References

Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Overview: FY2007 Homeland Security Grant Program.” Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, 2007a. Available online at: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/ grants st-local fy07.pdf.
.“The National Strategy for Homeland Security.” Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, November 1, 2007b. Available online at: http://www. dhs.gov.
.“Budget-in-Brief: Fiscal Year 2008.” Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, 2008a. Available online at: http://www.dhs.gov.
. “Citizens Corps: Programs & Partners.” Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, 2008b. Available online at: http://www.citizenscorps.gov/programs.
.“Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2008 Preparedness Grants. ” Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security. February 1, 2008c. Available online at: http://www.dhs. gov.
.“Organizational Chart.” Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security. February 1, 2008d. Available online at: http://www.dhs.gov.
Edwards, A. Preparedness Now!: An Emergency Survival Guide for Civilians and Their Families. Los Angeles, CA: Process Media, 2006.
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Are You Ready: A Guide to Citizen Preparedness. Washington, DC: Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Administration, Citizen Corps Programs, 2004.
National Priorities Project. “What Is Homeland Security?” 2007. Available online at: http://www.nationalpriorities. org/what is homeland security.