PROPOSED TASK FORCE WOULD EXPAND HOMELAND SECURITY NETWORK

BY RAYMOND F. KIERNAN

Homeland security has become a national priority in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Tom Ridge, director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, and his office have been preparing a national strategy for preventing and responding to terrorism. President George W. Bush proposed in his budget for Fiscal Year 2003 a $3.5 billion block grant assistance program for first responders that would be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The objective of the program would be to have the states build on their existing capabilities and develop an effective, comprehensive response plan for a full range of terrorist threats. The ultimate goal would be to create a mutual-aid network across the country within which federal, state, local, and volunteer organizations can work together "seamlessly." As originally envisioned, FEMA would send the money to the states on a per-capita basis, and the states would fund the localities.

Regional and local emergency response organizations also have turned their attention to their emergency response plans and homeland security. Having tenable response plans indeed may determine whether they qualify for federal grants. These organizations have been evaluating their resources, procedures, and operational plans to determine how prepared they are for a large-scale emergency/terrorist attack in their geographical area, how they can improve those areas they have found to be deficient, and how they can develop a more expansive and efficient response network.