Homeland Security and Emergency Management

M1D1: Concept of Homeland Security Enterprise

HSE (Homeland Security Enterprise) was designed to better coordinate the resources of all law enforcement functions that fall under the auspices of the DHS. DHA strives to provide law enforcement agencies with "the tools to identify and combat threats in their communities," including access to its information (Strengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise: Progress Report 2011, 2011, DHS). "Because state and local law enforcement are often in the best position to notice the first signs of a planned attack, homeland security efforts must be integrated into the police work that they do every day, providing officers on the front lines with a clear understanding of the tactics, behaviors, and other indicators that could point to terrorist activity" (Strengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise: Progress Report 2011, 2011, DHS). DHS has created 'fusion' centers "to train state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators related to terrorism" (Strengthening the Homeland Security Enterprise: Progress Report 2011, 2011, DHS).

Although the duties of homeland security are often thought of as being relegated to the federal government, local authorities have a critical role in improving the safety of America. Several years after the attack on the Twin Towers, DHS Secretary Tom Ridge noted: "mayors have always held the responsibility to protect their cities as their number-one priority and after 9/11, there was an added dimension to the safety and security of that responsibility, an added dimension of a different kind of threat that you had to help combat" (Smith 2005). Mayors must ensure that local law enforcement is mindful of potential terrorist threats (both organized and individually-based) that can be posed by criminals. They must ensure the security of major city events as the tragic example of the Boston Marathon illustrated all too well.

NGOs (non-governmental) organizations such as the Red Cross have provided invaluable assistance in recovering from tragedies through providing healthcare-related assistance, housing, immediate disaster relief, and other measures to supplement the resources of government aid workers. As such, the DHS can improve its operations by working with such agencies, briefing workers on how best to deal with the unique challenges of situations that can result from terrorist activities as well as providing financial assistance. NGOs can also alert the DHS if they spot suspicious activities during their regular operations.