NCJ Number
206044
Date Published
May 2004
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article provides a brief overview of the Urban Areas Security Initiative Port/Mass Transit Technical Assistance Program under the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP).
Abstract
By providing technical assistance to ports and mass transit agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office for Domestic Preparedness' Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) assists ports and mass transit agencies in enhancing their capacity and preparedness in responding to weapons of mass destruction terrorist incidents. Included in this technical assistance is the provision for an ODP Technical Assistance Team which will assist in the implementation of a Needs Assessment process which involves the implementation of the ODP Special Needs Jurisdiction Tool Kit. This article describes the purpose of the UASI Port/Mass Transit Technical Assistance Program, as well as the primary components of the ODP Special Needs Jurisdiction Tool Kit. The purpose of the Technical Assistance Program is to prioritize security countermeasures and emergency response capability needs based on terrorist threats and risk and develop a roadmap for future port/mass transit agency funding allocations for terrorist attack risk reduction. The three primary components of the Tool Kit consist of a risk assessment, a response capabilities assessment, and a needs assessment. Information is provided on the availability of technical assistance from ODP.