Week 3 Forum & Assignment

Assignment

DHS Responsibilities

There are four HSPD-5 criteria for which DHS will assume overall Federal incident management coordination responsibilities within the Framework and implement the Framework's coordinating mechanisms (Homeland Security, 2008). Below are such situations of possible disasters or certain homeland security incidents which will be applicable for the four criteria:

A hemorrhagic influenza has broken out in Western Pennsylvania which struck the poultry and killed more than 1,750,000 chickens within two days. Although, the USDA is investigating this incident but there are speculations that it might be certain biological terrorist attack against the agriculture of US as seven similar inexplicable aerosol canisters were found at the affected sites. They informed DHS Secretary and requested their assistance for further investigation and quarantine.

A major earth quake has struck the New Mexico and caused much destruction in other cities also including flood and breached levees. These cities include Tennessee, Memphis, Texas and other seven large cities situated along the Mississippi River. The situation has overwhelmed four states and the assistance of DHS has been asked by their governors.

A drug gang ahs recently claimed the responsibility for blowing up a train at South of the Rio Grande River in Arizona which was carrying a toxic cargo. This attack was carried out in a revenge for the killing of five major Mexican drug dealers along with their other ten key operatives by the coordination of US Special Operations Forces.

The president has asked DHS to respond to an incident of collision between two ships in the St. Lawrence Seaway between Canada and America. One of the two ships was carrying toxic substance which is now being exposed to the people and environment as it is flowing towards Canada (Mottern, 2009).

Local and State Government Roles

State and local governments are closest to the ones who get affected by the disasters, and that is why they always lead to response and recovery. The resilient communities start with organized and equipped individuals. They depend upon the engagement and leadership of NGOs, Local government and the private sector. The families, individuals and caregivers with that of special needs should increase their awareness regarding the risks and threats they may face in shape of incidents and should develop certain household emergency plans and emergency supply kits not only for themselves but for their pets and other service animals also. Other than families and individuals; local police, ...