Military Emergency Management Terrorism Preparedness

¶ … Military Emergency Management/Terrorism Preparedness It is reported in the work of Prelas, et al. (2009) entitled "Science and Technology of Terrorism and Counterterrorism" that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003, and is charged with the reduction of the "loss of life and property and protect the national from all hazards" including acts of terrorism.

FEMA is to accomplish this through providing leadership and support to the national in a "risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation." (Prelas, et al., 2009, p.539) DHA/FEMA is reported to be under the leadership of the secretary and to coordinate "with the Commandment of the Coast Guard, the Commissioner of Customs, and Border Protection, the Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the NOC and other agencies and offices in the department to take full advantage of the substantial range of resources in the department." (Prelas, et al., 2009, p.

539) Prelas additionally reports that the Department of Defense (DOD) is a "full partner in the federal response to domestic incidents." (2009, p.

539) Under Title XIV it is reported that Congress directed a program to enhance the capability of the Federal Government to prevent and respond to terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction, and provide enhanced support to improve the capabilities of state and local emergency response agencies to prevent and respond to such incidents at both the national and the local level." (Department of Defense, Report to Congress, nd) DOD's Domestic Preparedness Program is stated to encompass nine programs that are set out in Title XIV and is focused on the improvement of the preparedness and responsiveness of first responders and other elements that may support them in a time of crisis." (Department of Defense, Report to Congress, nd) The Program Implementation is shown in the following figure labeled Figure 1.

Figure 1 DOD's Domestic Preparedness Program Source: (Department of Defense, Report to Congress, nd) The Federal government provides a diverse range of training programs to agencies in providing response to an attack with weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

It is reported that there are 15, radiation health effects and medical considerations and nuclear weapons effects." (Department of Defense, Report to Congress, nd) Keefer and Loayza (2008) report that the Department of Homeland Security directorate, Emergency Preparedness and Response has subfunctions grouped under the title "Disaster relief and insurance" stated to be conceived "as being inherited from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)." It is reported that the major military operations that support the campaign against terror have been those abroad including: (1) Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan; and (2) Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq; and one at home, Operation Noble Eagle (ONE).

As well there are existing enhanced security and military activities on the home front." (Keefer and Loayza, 2008, p.65) Spending on the expenses across components and not including disaster relief and insurance spending, is stated to total somewhere in the range of approximately "$13-14 billion." (Keefer and Loayza, 2008, p.65) It has been estimated by the Congressional Research Service that between September 1, 2001 and March 2005, the Congress "appropriated and authorized $201 billion for the campaign against terror, including OEF, OIF and enhanced security and other operations at home…" (Keefer and Loayza, 2008, p.65) Stopa, et al.

(2004) reports that Federal Preparedness programs including the following categories: (1) emergency management and planning; (2) training and equipment for first responders; (3) weapons of mass destruction and hazardous materials; (4) law enforcement; and (5) public health and medical community. (p.139) Included in the programs for chemical and biological defense are the following initiatives: (1) contamination avoidance, protection, and decontamination equipment packages; (2) emergency response capability for consequence management; and (3) others.

(Stopa, et al., 2004, p.139) It is reported that unlike the military and first responders, "a process to develop clearly defined requirements for the technological protection systems of civilian populations against WMD attack in the U.S. does not yet exist." (Stopa, et al., 2004, p.139) it is necessary that a process for the development of clearly defined requirements that will ensure technology applications in protecting systems of civilian populations against attacks from weapons of mass destruction in the U.S.

be developed and implemented in order to ensure the same protection to the population in the U.S. As is provided to military personnel serving in foreign operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. There has been a great deal of energy and resources applied in countering the danger of terrorists and their.