Fwd: National Security Update - "Emergency Response: Are We Prepared?"

heritage.org | Heritage research | Blog |                          April 19, 2010 Issue in Depth: Emergency Response: Are We Prepared? The damage resulting from the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the destruction of Hurricane Katrina demonstrate the United States' vulnerability to both man-made and natural disasters. While it is necessary for the U.S. to disrupt terrorist attacks early in the planning process, it must also have effective disaster response forces and procedures to prepare for a possible attack from chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. Of course, little can be done to prevent a natural disaster, and mitigating the damage is the only option. Given the variety of threats to the American homeland, it is necessary to examine U.S. preparedness for potential disasters. The "federalization of disasters" is a concerning trend that spreads the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) too thin and weakens local emergency-response teams needed for isolated disasters. To strengthen our homeland security, the U.S. must have effective local emergency-response teams and a federal force capable of responding effectively to grand-scale catastrophes when necessary. See the following research in this week's Issue in Depth to see how the U.S. should prepare for the full range of threats to the homeland. Latest Research: The Heritage Foundation: Federalizing Disasters Weakens FEMA--and Hurts Americans Hit by Catastrophes The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been responding to almost any natural disaster around the country, be it a contained three-county flood, or a catastrophe of near-epic proportions like Hurricane Katrina. As a result, many states and localities have trimmed their own emergency-response budgets, often leaving them ill prepared to handle even rain- or snowstorms without federal assistance. This leaves FEMA stretched far too thin and ill prepared to respond to grand-scale catastrophes. The Heritage Foundation: Quadrennial Defense Review's Homeland Defense Realignment Leaves U.S. Less Prepared The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is intended to be a delineation of long-term defense strategy and force structure for the U.S. military. In this year's review, the Pentagon recommended cutting the number of military forces prepared to respond to a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) attack by downsizing U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) forces and shifting remaining personnel to the 10 regions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This recommendation, however, would leave the U.S. shortchanged in the event of a high-impact disaster. The Heritage Foundation: Time for an EMP Recognition Day On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan gave a famous speech where he outlined his plans for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), aimed at protecting America from a nuclear missile attack using land- and sea-based missile defense systems. The Heritage Foundation: The Nuclear Posture Review's Missing Objective: Defending the U.S. and Its Allies Against Strategic Attack The chief flaw of the Obama Administration's Nuclear Posture Review is that it fails to make a clear commitment to defend the U.S. and its allies. However, if Congress is willing to press the Administration, it can correct many of these weaknesses, resulting in a stronger U.S. nuclear posture and serving important nonproliferation and arms control objectives. More Blogs: The Foundry: Prepared for Disaster? The Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), which outlines future threats to the United States, recommends cutting the number of military forces prepared to respond to a weapons-of-mass-destruction attack against America. The Foundry: Who is Going to Pay for FEMA? Looks like Mother Nature didn't get the message about the budget crises in most of the states. So, she twice dumped a bunch of snow on the Midwest and East that required states, cities, and counties to plow – in between frantic calls to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reinforcements. Morning Bell: Maintaining Our Dominant Military At the close of this week's nuclear summit, President Barack Obama told a press conference: "Whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower, and when conflicts break out, one way or another we get pulled into them."   More Events: April 28, 2010, 10:30 AM Location: Washington, DC The Heritage Foundation: China and Cyber Security Following the incident between China and Google, concern is growing regarding the PRC's threat to cyber security. Please join us as our panel provides us with a better understanding of what kinds of incidents are occurring, how likely the Chinese are indeed responsible, and what can be done about it. April 26, 2010, 2:15 PM Location: Washington, DC American Enterprise Institute: The Christmas Day Attack: What Have We Learned? How Do We Move Forward? U.S. senator Susan Collins will discuss the current state of U.S. counterterrorism policy as our panel discusses the implications of the Christmas Day terror plot.  Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2009, The Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400