Homeland Security: Effective Intergovernmental Coordination Is Key to Success Page: 4 of 25
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federal and non-federal actors may best be developed in a collaborative
way involving all levels of government and the private sector. Standards
are one tool the national strategy emphasizes in areas such as training,
equipment, and communications.
A careful choice of the most appropriate assistance tools is critical to
achieve and sustain national goals. The choice and design of policy tools,
such as grants, regulations, and tax incentives, can enhance the capacity of
all levels of government to target areas of highest risk and greatest need,
promote shared responsibilities by all parties, and track and assess
progress toward achieving national preparedness goals. The national
strategy notes that until recently, federal support for domestic
preparedness efforts has been relatively small and disorganized, with
various departments and agencies providing money in a "tangled web" of
grant programs. It notes the shared responsibility of providing homeland
security between federal, state, and local governments, and the private
sector and recognizes the importance of using appropriate tools of
government to improve preparedness.Background
Homeland security is a complex mission that involves a broad range of
functions performed throughout government, including law enforcement,
transportation, food safety and public health, information technology, and
emergency management, to mention only a few. Federal, state, and local
governments have a shared responsibility in preparing for catastrophic
terrorist attacks as well as other disasters. The initial responsibility for
planning, preparing, and response falls upon local governments and their
organizations-such as police, fire departments, emergency medical
personnel, and public health agencies-which will almost invariably be the
first responders to such an occurrence. For its part, the federal
government has principally provided leadership, training, and funding
assistance.
The federal government's role in responding to major disasters has
historically been defined by the Stafford Act,5 which makes most federal
assistance contingent on a finding that the disaster is so severe as to be
beyond the capacity of state and local governments to respond effectively.
Once a disaster is declared, the federal government-through the Federal
5Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 121 et seq.)
establishes the process for states to request a presidential disaster declaration.GAO-02-1011T
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United States. General Accounting Office. Homeland Security: Effective Intergovernmental Coordination Is Key to Success, text, August 20, 2002; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc289874/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.