- Author
- Office of Homeland Security
- Title
- National Strategy for Homeland Security.
- Coporate
- Office of Homeland Security, Washington, DC
- Keywords
- terrorists | terrorism | warning systems | emergency plans | planning | costs | technology utilization | technology assessment | information dissenination | information science | legislation
- Identifiers
- critical mission areas; foundations
- Abstract
- This document is the first National Strategy for Homeland Security. The purpose of the Strategy is to mobilize and organize our Nation to secure the U.S. homeland from terrorist attacks. This is an exceedingly complex mission that requires coordinated and focused effort from our entire society-the federal government, state and local governments, the private sector, and the American people. People and organizations all across the United States have taken many steps to improve our security since the September 11 attacks, but a great deal of work remains. The National Strategy for Homeland Security will help to prepare our Nation for the work ahead in several ways. It provides direction to the federal government departments and agencies that have a role in homeland security. It suggests steps that state and local governments, private companies and organizations, and individual Americans can take to improve our security and offers incentives for them to do so. It recommends certain actions to the Congress. In this way, the Strategy provides a framework for the contributions that we all can make to secure our homeland. The National Strategy for Homeland Security is the beginning of what will be a long struggle to protect our Nation from terrorism. It establishes a foundation upon which to organize our efforts and provides initial guidance to prioritize the work ahead. The Strategy will be adjusted and amended over time. We must be prepared to adapt as our enemies in the war on terrorist alter their means of attack. The strategic objectives of homeland security in order of priority are 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.