Homeland Security General Information
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was formed shortly after the events of September 11. The new department was put in place by President Bush to help prevent future attacks here in the United States. The mission of DHS is to implement a comprehensive national strategy in order to protect the United States from terrorist threats. Agencies that have been pulled in under DHS include, but are not limited to, the US Border Patrol, Customs, and the Secret Service. A component of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) was also placed within DHS. By combining agencies such as these the government will be better prepared to fight terrorist threats.
The DHS also helps the federal government to share information and inform the public of possible threats. One method is through the alert levels. The Government has created a Homeland Security Advisory System to help citizens stay informed. This advisory system has five basic levels that are each assigned a different color. These levels range from low to high. The levels are as follows: "Low" (green), "Guarded" (blue), "Elevated" (yellow), "High" (orange), and "Severe" (red).
If you want to learn more about each of these levels, refer to the Homeland Security website, where the levels are explained in more detail. The public can also get information on what to do if different threats are thought to exist such as those from biological agents, chemical agents, radiological agents, thermo/mechanical agents, or psychosocial.
Another website hosted by the US government, Ready.gov, provides useful information such as what to do if a certain threat is imminent. This includes instructions to help you and your family in an emergency, and kits to prepare ahead of time in case disaster strikes. It also provides you with other links to sites with information that may be helpful, including a helpful Frequently Asked Questions section.
Links to a number of websites are included below, such as the US Office of Homeland Security, keeping food supplies safe, SARS, Smallpox, and EDEN. These sites will provide you with information on many different aspects of Homeland Security. The information provided for the set up of a shelter and emergency plans (kits) is good for many situations. They will help keep your family safe in case of a natural or man-made disaster.
Links
- Creating a Family Plan - Advice from the National Homeland Security Office on developing a family emergency plan.
- EDEN Homeland Security - For educators and professionals.
- EDEN Homeland Security - Responding to a terrorist attack.
- FirstGov: Protect Yourself - Information on preparation, coping with mental health, cybersecurity, travel safety and other links.
- Healthy Parenting Initiative - Information for military families for balancing military and family life, including the trauma of war on a military family. This site includes a Healthy Parenting Tool Kit as well as Parent-Teen Resources.
- Homeland Security for Michigan Communities - This piece was developed to help inform Michigan legislators, but it may also have uses with other stakeholder groups.
- Michigan Homeland Security - Designed to help keep Michigan families up-to-date on issues related to homeland security.
- Planning and Prevention: Three Key Steps - Three steps provided by the Department of Homeland Security concerning how to be properly prepared for unexpected emergencies.
- Ready.gov -- Get a Kit - A guide on what to include when creating different types of emergency kits.
- Ready.gov -- Make a Plan - A guide on planning for emergencies in different situations, such as in your home, in a vehicle, in a high-rise building and more.
- Red Cross Safety Kits - A short article on different safety kits available from the Red Cross and how to get them.
- U.S. Office of Homeland Security - Preparing for terrorism.
- USDA - Keeping America's Food and Agriculture Safe. - A resource aimed at informing producers, processors, and providers how they can help counter bioterrorism or threats to the food supply.
SARS
- Center for Disease Control - A SARS resource center with current news, health guides, and general information on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
- Information on SARS from Central Michigan University - A site with general information on SARS including what it is, symptoms, how it's spread, and more.
- Michigan Department of Community Health - A SARS resource with press releases from the state of Michigan as well as links to further information.
- World Health Organization - A SARS resource containing news, updates, guidelines, and recommendations.
Smallpox
- Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) - A Smallpox resource containing fact sheets on the disease, information about vaccinations, and more.
- US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - A Smallpox resource containing information for everyone, specific information for certain groups, and information for professionals.