What is Homeland Security?

Homeland security encompasses several strategical departments that function to protect a country from terrorist activity. The Department of Homeland Security within the United States operates with the intention of reducing vulnerability and exposure to foreign and domestic terrorism. In addition, Homeland Security provides recovery efforts in the event an attack occurs on U.S. soil. The United States government birthed the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 following the traumatic September 11^th attacks. Homeland defense operates similarly; however, it mainly focuses on protecting U.S. territory, population, sovereignty, and infrastructure from external threats. According to Homeland Security research, both departments consist of 187 federal agencies and entities. It also converges fourteen intelligence agencies and numerous private sector enterprises.

The United States Department of Homeland Security emerged after the George W. Bush administration passed the Homeland Security Act in 2002. Many government organizations, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, operate independently from the Department of Homeland Security but still contribute to securing the homeland from external and internal threats. In addition, the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services extend their sphere of influence over certain aspects of homeland security. The scope of homeland security includes emergency preparedness and recovery, border security, bio-defense, and transportation security.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Department of Homeland Security coordinates response and recovery efforts following a national emergency, such as a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other large-scale event. Emergency preparedness and response requires the attention of federal, state, local, and private sector entities to promote a swift recovery effort. The Department of Homeland Security mobilizes these entities to help build a ready and resilient nation following catastrophic events. Homeland Security helps by bolstering information sharing, providing federal grants, plans, and resources for law enforcement, and facilitating the rebuilding and recovery of impacted areas, such as the Gulf Coast after the BP oil spill or New Orleans after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. These grant have been used to deploy high quality AI security cameras, LPR camera systems, and other types of security cameras.

• Preparedness, Response and Recovery

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Federal Emergency Management Agency: Be Ready

• Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency

• Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans: A Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (PDF)
  
  

Border Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deploys personnel and resources to secure the nation's borders from illegal immigrants. Homeland Security works closely with Canada and Mexico to safeguard the borders from foreign and domestic threats. It also collaborates with federal, state, local, and tribal entities to make this a possibility. DHS employs thousands of border patrol agents, agriculture specialists, and military personnel to guard the front-lines of the United States. In addition to keeping illegal immigrants of America, these men and women work to prevent terrorists from smuggling weapons and illegal contraband into the country. The Department of Homeland Security also uses technology to protect our borders, such as sensors, radar, and aerial surveillance.

• Customs and Border Protection (CPB)

• Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

• The Center for Immigration Studies: Illegal Immigration

• The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO): Preliminary Observations on Border Control Measures for the Southwest Border (PDF)

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Bio-Defense

The Department of Homeland Security initiates efforts to mitigate biological threats. DHS vows to restore bio-security to an infected group of persons or area that may be subjected to biological warfare. Bio-defense initiatives could protect animals and plants; however, our nation's economic reserves could not handle to sustain these measures. Homeland Security focuses on protecting our water and food supplies from biological agents. Bio-defense generally refers to preventative measures against biological warfare and terrorism. Therefore, military and emergency response teams have made it a priority to keeping bio-weapons out of the heartland of the United States, including civilian and military combatant populations.

• Biodefense for the 21st Century

• The Library of Congress: Chemical and Biological Warfare (CBW)

• Assessing the Biological Weapons and Bioterrorism Threat (PDF)

• The Homeland Biological Warfare Threat (PDF)

• The Biological Weapon: A PoorNation's Weapon of Mass Destruction

Transportation Security

The Department of Homeland Security formed out of the wake of the September 11 ^th terrorist attacks, a tragedy that exposed the gaping holes in public transportation. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also emerged from the shadows of that unforgotten event by vowing to never allow others to exploit public transportation services again. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) strengthens the nation's transportation systems to ensure the security of people and commerce. TSA mainly focuses on the nation's airports to screen all commercial airline passengers and their baggage.

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The TSA's First 11 Years

• Answers USA.gov: Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• Mitchell Airport: Security and Passport Information

• HowStuffWorks: How Airport Security Works

This article was written by Mike Haldas, co-founder and managing partner of CCTV Camera Pros.