Outlook on National Homeland Security Strategy

One primary goal of the National Security Strategy (NSS) is prevention. The NSS and the National Strategy for Homeland Security provide the guidance and direction for developing other “lower level” strategic documents. This section of Lesson 2 puts only a few of the national level strategic documents in perspective. The video/power point from the Naval Postgraduate School will set the stage. Homeland security planning is an essential element of the national effort and it is also one of the most complex. This module, and this course overall, are intended to provide you with an overview of homeland security planning efforts and a perspective on this complex issue.

In this section of Lesson 2 you should become familiar with DHS’ Strategic Plan and how it complements the National Strategy for Homeland Security. As a more practical matter, if you are not already familiar with NIMS, you should begin doing so in this lesson. Of the myriad of national level documents published by DHS, NIMS (and ICS), for all practical purposes, most likely has the most direct impact on emergency management agencies at every level.

---

Department of Homeland Security – Strategic Plan 2020-2024

Read the DHS Strategic Plan. This plan serves to focus the DHS’ mission and sharpen operational effectiveness, particularly in delivering services in support of homeland security initiatives and the other mission goals. It identifies the goals and objectives by which DHS assesses its performance. DHS uses performance measures at all levels to monitor strategic progress and program success. This process also keeps DHS’ priorities aligned, linking programs and operations to performance measures, mission goals, resource priorities, and strategic objectives.

---

National Incident Management System (NIMS) – October 2017

Read pages 1-49 of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) document. 

NIMS provides a common foundation to be adapted at all levels of government to ensure a standardized, but flexible approach for response and recovery planning. These efforts are further augmented by continued natural hazard mitigation, continuity of operations (COOP), continuity of government (COG), pandemic flu, and a growing spectrum of other specific planning programs. Of note, planning efforts for the prevention of terrorist attacks and the development of associated preparedness concepts continue to present significant conceptual challenges to our traditional planning methodologies.

The difficulties of implementing a national standard planning structure are further complicated by the organizational challenges of our federalist structure of state and local government. There are significant (regional) variations in the organization and authorities of state and local governments which will continue to demand a flexible approach to planning. The experience of the National Guard in planning could potentially be a significant asset to local and state planning efforts. However, military planners need to be mindful of the unique challenges of “joint and combined planning”, as defined by the military, within the civilian HLS community.

NIMS provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.

NIMS works hand in hand with the national framework and provides the template for the management of incidents, while the NRF provides the structure and mechanisms for national-level policy for incident management. (Comments adapted from FEMA: National Incident Management System (NIMS).