NCJ Number
206955
Date Published
September 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This fact sheet presents initiatives undertaken by the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness as directed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enhance the capacity of State and local agencies in responding to incidents of terrorism.
Abstract
Tasked by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to prepare America for acts of domestic terrorism, the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) is developing and implementing a national program to improve and enhance the capacity of State and local agencies in their response to incidents of terrorism, especially those involving weapons of mass destruction and natural disasters. The ability to accomplish this task is through coordinated training, exercises, equipment acquisition, and technical assistance. This fact sheet presents current initiatives in enhancing State and local responses to domestic terrorism. The first initiative falls within the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 which implements a plan to bring together experts from Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private and non-profit sectors to define a national preparedness goal and integrate Federal preparedness programs into a coordinated system. The second initiative is under the Office of State and Local Government Coordination (SLGC), which serve as a single point of contact for facilitating and coordinating departmental programs, such as the Department of Homeland Security that impact State, local, territorial, and tribal governments. The third and final initiative is provided by the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) offering and distributing grants and technical support to States and localities. These grants include: Homeland Security Grant Program, Urban Area Security Initiative, Citizen Corps, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, Information Technology and Evaluation Program, Competitive Training Grants Program, Emergency Management Performance Grants, and Transportation and Interoperability Grants. In addition to grants and technical support, ODP offers training through the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and exercise programs for first responders to practice prevention, reduce vulnerabilities, and hone recovery capabilities in a risk-free environment.