Concepts in Homeland Security - Assignment Example

Concepts in Homeland Security Part 2- Short Questions 1. DHS and FBI are partners in homeland security. DHS was established under the Homeland Security Act 2002, and thus, plays its part in combating security threats in the country. However, this is also a fact that quite much homeland security of the country lies outside DHS. So, DHS has to act in collaboration with many other homeland security agencies to ensure complete protection against terrorism and other threats. FBI is present at every other terrorist event because it is responsible for presenting its “investigative and intelligence capabilities to neutralize terrorist cells and operatives…to help dismantle extremist networks worldwide, and to cut off financing and other forms of support provided by terrorist sympathizers” (FBI, 2015, par.1). Moreover, it is important to note here that partnership between these agencies is important to promote a “whole community” approach to ensure that every nook and corner of the homeland is safe. Partnership between DHS and FBI, and many other agencies, enhances the preparedness against low predictability events. This is why professionals in FBI raid jackets can be seen at every other terrorism event despite the fact that DHS is the primary homeland security agency. 2. “Black Swan” means such a disastrous event whose predictability is very low and its consequences are extremely catastrophic. The disastrous outcomes are high. Some good examples include terrorist attacks, natural and environmental disasters of high scale, and economic failures (Torrens Resilience Institute, 2009). The terrorist attack of 9/11 was a big Black Swan event in the history of US because of its zero predictability and high catastrophic outcomes. It was a terrorist attack which could not be anticipated, and thus, preparedness was zero and zilch. So, Black Swan is related to preparedness in a sense that it helps security agencies take measures to implement such classical risk assessment and management policies that help us sort out some of the most predictable events. We can ask ourselves questions, like how predictable is a disaster? What kinds of disasters have been occurring in the neighborhoods or cities in the past? What are the chances that the disaster will become a major event? What can be the level of damage? How much will be the cost for rehabilitation? How resilience will be ensured? What plans and actions can be taken to avoid or deal with such a disaster? These questions will lead us toward preparedness. 3. To ensure that no Mike Browns headed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the future, Congress relieved Mike Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, of his duties at the disaster relief after Katrina hit FEMA. He was instructed to hand over Hurricane Katrina relief duties to a Coast Guard official, and was made to return to Washington to supervise the national office (NBCNews.com, 2005, par.1). Brown was blamed for not responding well against the unprecedented event. Many criticisms arose against Brown’s weak strategies, low preparedness and corrupt tackling of issues. Critics also blamed the federal, state and local governments for not having adequate resources and measures to combat the disaster. Congress investigated the issue and told Brown to roll up his sleeves because of his weak disaster management skills. Brown testified in front of Congress that the disaster and its outcomes were beyond the control of FEMA itself due to lack of resources from federal and state governments and also partly due to the breach in New Orleans levees. However, showing no mercy, Congress made sure that no more Michael Browns show up, and ex-President Bush appointed a firefighter expert in emergency management named David Paulison as the new director of FEMA. 4. The National Security Letter (NSL) power, 18 U.S.C. § 2709, section 505, is the most dangerous and invasive powers of all the government surveillance powers that the US Patriot Act of 2002 has expanded thus far (Electronic Frontier Foundation, n.d.). It acts as a law enforcement investigative tool. FBI issues NSL to companies and individuals to gain private information that is critical for homeland security. The NSL asks the companies to disclose data about their customers’ telephone, banking and internet records. An NSL specifically targets an individual’s name, address, service duration, telephonic records, internet usage, financial services, credit card usage, and the like, which is information too confidential and revealing. The process is totally secretive as the company or the individual who receives an NSL is not allowed to tell anyone about the NSL. This instruction is termed as an accompanying gag order. This point also makes the process vulnerable to information misuse as FBI has already been blamed for NSL abuse. The main reason for NSL abuse is that there is no court order that is required for its issuance, and so, there is no judicial oversight making the information obtained through an NSL prone to abuse. 5. Hazus-MH is a FEMA’s program that is “a nationally applicable standardized methodology that contains models for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods and hurricanes” (FEMA, 2015, par.1). With the help of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, Hazus tends to estimate what kinds of physical, social and economic impacts a disaster is going to afflict the place and its people with. The government planners, GIS specialists and emergency management professionals use Hazuus-MH to produce graphical illustrations that help estimate the limits of the locations that are vulnerable to earthquake, floods, and other kinds of catastrophes. Losses are determined so that measures can be taken to minimize them. Mitigation approaches that are the most workable and efficient are determined. The mitigation planning process can be facilitated with Hazus so that the vicious series of damage, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and recurring damage can be broken. To cut it short, with Hazus, the users get a model of the location with assisting information about population, geographic assets, and resources for combating the disaster. Readiness to avoid and deal with the catastrophe is very beneficial when a disaster occurs. The whole pre-disaster planning process of Hazus-MH is an initiation of mitigation, recovery, preparedness and response. References Electronic Frontier Foundation. (n.d.) National Security Letters. Retrieved April 24, 2015, from https://www.eff.org/issues/national-security-letters FBI. (2015). Terrorism. Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism FEMA. (2015). Hazus. Retrieved April 25, 2015, from https://www.fema.gov/hazus NBCNews.com. (2005). FEMA chief relieved of Katrina duties. Hurricanes Archives. Retrieved April 25, 2015, from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9266986/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/fema-chief-relieved-katrina-duties/#.VTtVliGqqko Torrens Resilience Institute. (2009). Black Swans: Resilience and the Unthinkable. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.torrensresilience.org/black-swans-resilience-and-the-unthinkable Read More