State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Selected Policy Issues

Publication Date: December 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Abstract:

While the federal government has resources at hand for responding to terrorist attacks, the proximity of state and local first responders insures they will almost always be the first to arrive at the site of an attack. For this reason, the preparedness of state and local governments has become a salient national issue.

The President's National Strategy for Homeland Security, issued in June 2002, proposes a number of measures to enhance state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks, particularly those involving weapons of mass destruction. Most of these measures, presently undertaken by FEMA and several other agencies, but will be transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which Congress authorized in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296). As the 108th Congress monitors the implementation of the new department, it might consider a range of issues, which include the following:

Amount and Uses of Federal Assistance--Observers have urged Congress to increase levels of financial and technical assistance available to states and localities. Some observers have also asked for more flexibility with federal funds.

Use of risk analysis--The process of risk analysis is generally used by risk experts to identify and evaluate options for reducing risks to human health and safety. The usefulness of risk analysis and the appropriate methodology, however, are frequently debated by emergency managers and analysts.

Federal training programs--State and local first responders generally rate federal terrorism training as effective and helpful. Many observers, however, cite a number of faults in federal training, such as lack of interagency coordination, insufficient quantity of course offerings, and lack of course information for state and local officials.

Mutual aid compacts--Mutual aid compacts are widely acknowledged to be an effective and efficient means of sharing emergency management resources among different jurisdictions. Federal support for mutual aid could better prepare states and localities for all disasters, including terrorist attacks.

Joint training exercises--Exercises can potentially improve emergency preparedness by allowing first responders from different agencies (e.g., law enforcement, fire and rescue, and public health) and different levels of government to become familiar with others' capabilities and practices.

Readers interested in analysis of state and local preparedness functions of the new Department of Homeland Security should see CRS Report RL31490, Department of Homeland Security: State and Local Preparedness Issues.

This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.