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Homeland Security 5 Year Anniversary 2003 - 2008, One Team, One Mission Securing the Homeland

Seceretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge Visited the National Emergency Training Center

Release Date: 06/26/03 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2003

Today, Secretary Tom Ridge and Undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response Mike Brown visited the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland where he discussed a comprehensive national process for measuring preparedness.  In addition, they toured the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) Fire Demonstration Lab and visited the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, the September 11th Memorial Plaque and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony.  Below are preparedness measurement projects that are ongoing at the Department of Homeland Security.

  • Preparedness Levels: The Department is also developing a Comprehensive National Process for Measuring Preparedness to rate levels of preparedness of states and local jurisdictions based on multiple factors to include the assessment data, plans, human resources, equipment, training, performance during exercises or actual incidents, implementation Preparedness at the state and local levels is being assessed in several ways: 1) self assessments of response capacity and needs; 2) identification of critical tasks and measurement of performance through exercises; 3) assessment of levels of preparedness across jurisdictions and the nation. of improvements based on exercise finding, etc.  
  • Local Assessment of Preparedness: As part of the requirements for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, local jurisdictions across the country use a structured toolkit to conduct threat and vulnerability assessments as well as assessments of capabilities and needs.  This information is provided to states as input into the statewide Homeland Security Strategy.  The initial assessments were conducted in 2000/2001 and provide a baseline measure of preparedness.  The assessments and strategy will be updated during the last half of 2003.
  • Performance Measurement: The Department is also developing a series of Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation (HSEEP) documents to provide doctrine and guidance on the planning, design, and conduct of threat- and performance-based exercises.  Critical tasks for response have been identified through meetings with local responders and other subject matter experts.  The critical tasks drive our training program.  In addition, performance measures to assess the ability of responders to perform the critical tasks during an exercise are being developed.  The HSEEP Volume 1: Overview and Doctrine was distributed to the states in April 2003.  HSEEP Volume 2: Exercise Evaluation and Improvement will be release in July 2003.
  • Performance Measurement: The Department is developing a common suite of scenarios that will incorporate the range of probable threats and the critical tasks required to prevent, respond to and recover from the incident.  States and local jurisdictions will be encouraged to complete the entire suite of exercises to test preparedness to respond to the range of threats.  Exercises using the suite of scenarios will be piloted in jurisdictions participating in the Urban Areas Security Initiative to measure performance and preparedness.

  • As part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is charged with the primary responsibility within the executive branch to build and sustain the preparedness of the United States to reduce vulnerabilities, prevent, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism.
  • In order to achieve this important goal, the Department is providing grants to state and local jurisdictions for planning, equipment, training, and exercises that will enhance their capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. We are also developing and delivering preparedness training; providing exercise support to state and local agencies; conducting national, regional, and cross border exercises, and managing the Prepositioned Equipment Program (PEP).
  • A critical component of this effort is the ability to define and measure the preparedness of federal, state, and local public agencies, as well as the private sector, in their capability to prevent and respond to a terrorist attack.
  • We assess preparedness at the state and local levels in several ways: 1) self assessments of response capacity and needs; 2) identification of critical tasks and measurement of performance through exercises; 3) assessment of levels of preparedness across jurisdictions and the nation.
  • The Top Officials (TOPOFF) exercises are another mechanism that helps us test and measure the preparedness of federal, state, local, and international agencies in their response to multiple incidents around the country.  As a result of the TOPOFF 2 exercise conducted in May 2003, we found that the 120 participating agencies had a high level of preparedness, as compared to the first TOPOFF exercise in 2001.  While results continue to be compiled, we know that there will be lessons learned that will help us further enhance our preparedness and our ability to coordinate across the government.

This page was last modified on 06/26/03 00:00:00