Public Safety: A Guide Book for Government

Homeland Security

Homeland Security has become a national priority. We realize now we're not as safe as we thought we were. So how do we deal with that? The best response is to work together. Collaboration, information sharing and strong communication are common themes today in homeland security.

These themes are championed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS leads the effort against terrorism and other threats, both internally and externally. The DHS takes an all-hazards approach that covers many key concerns, including border security, critical infrastructure protection, and emergency preparedness and response - for both man-made and natural disasters.

While much of the effort is driven at the federal level, state and local governments also have plenty at stake. They too should devote resources to homeland security. As those in the public safety world say, "Every incident begins locally." The following pages cover several key areas that governments should work on regarding homeland security.

National Incident Management System

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was created by presidential directive to strengthen homeland security in response to 9/11. Its goal is to standardize processes among all government levels and the private sector in disaster preparation, response and recovery. That includes terrorism and other incidents, both man-made and natural.

NIMS provides a consistent national framework. It's a template that creates unified processes among responders from all jurisdictions and disciplines when reacting to incidents. It calls for a standard approach to incident management and communication. It also emphasizes preparedness, mutual aid among agencies and efficient management of available resources.

By calling for standardized operations, technologies and communications, NIMS helps public safety agencies nationwide be more effective in emergency situations, especially when working with other jurisdictions. The core set of concepts, principles and terminology within NIMS should help all public safety agencies achieve success during emergencies.

Learn More - NIMS is the standard set by the federal government. All governments and others should know and follow the NIMS guidelines to make our communities safer.

Follow the Processes - Public safety agencies at all levels of government know how to respond to emergencies, but they use a wide variety of equipment, processes and communication tools. By following the standardized processes set by NIMS, agencies increase their chances of success when working with other jurisdictions. For example, NIMS ensures that responders across the country receive the same training. That helps responders from different jurisdictions work together more smoothly in a disaster.

Get Funded - All federal agencies must be NIMS-compliant. State governments must be NIMS-compliant in order to receive federal funding for many types of projects. And these state projects can also benefit local communities. By adhering to the NIMS guidelines, governments make their communities safer and also become eligible for funding, which improves safety even more.

Interoperable Communications

Interoperable communications are a priority for public safety officials because responses to incidents can be more effective when numerous agencies work together. They can't work together if they can't communicate.

Too often, breakdowns occur due to agencies using different types of communication devices and different radio frequencies. Much progress has been made in recent years, but there are still challenges. Communication is no longer just about voice; it's also video and data, as rich-media files and information sharing are becoming the norm. And communication needs to happen in real time because data that's even a few minutes old can be counterproductive in an emergency.

Make It a Priority - Proper situational awareness is crucial to first responders. Their actions can mean the difference between life and death. Responders can act more quickly and productively if they have all the information they need. It doesn't help if