HSPD-8 Overview

On December 17, 2003, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 "National Preparedness" (HSPD-8). The purpose of HSPD-8 is to "establish policies to strengthen the preparedness of the United States to prevent and respond to threatened or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies by requiring a national domestic all-hazards preparedness goal, establishing mechanisms for improved delivery of Federal preparedness assistance to State and local governments, and outlining actions to strengthen preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, and local entities."

The National Preparedness Goal

The Goal will guide federal departments and agencies, state, territorial, local and tribal officials, the private sector, non-government organizations and the public in determining how to most effectively and efficiently strengthen preparedness for terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. The Interim National Preparedness Goal was released on March 31, 2005. The press release is available here.

Capabilities-Based Planning^D

The Goal utilizes a Capabilities-Based Planning approach: planning, under uncertainty, to provide capabilities suitable for a wide range of threats and hazards, within an economic framework that necessitates prioritization and choice. Capabilities-Based Planning addresses uncertainty by analyzing a wide range of possible scenarios to identify required capabilities.

Capabilities-Based Planning Tools - Tools are accessible at https://www.llis.dhs.gov. LLIS.gov is password protected and requires user registration.

• National Planning Scenarios Executive Summaries: Document accessible at https://www.llis.dhs.gov. LLIS.gov is password protected and requires user registration.
• Target Capabilities List: Version 2.0: September 2006
• Universal Task List: Version 2.1: June 2006

Fact Sheets

• The Target Capabilities List
• Capabilities-Based Planning Fact Sheet
• The National Preparedness Goal
• NIMS, the NRP, and the National Preparedness Goal
• National Priorities Fact Sheet
• Stakeholder Engagement Fact Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

• HSPD-8 Frequently Asked Questions

Documents and Links

• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7
• HSPD-8 References in the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidelines Homeland Security Grant Program
• Homeland Security Grant Program
• Interim National Preparedness Goal
• National Incident Management System
• National Preparedness Goal Roll-out Conference Master Brief
• National Preparedness Guidance
• National Response Plan
• Summary of all Federal, State, local, tribal, private sector, and non-governmental organizations that have participated in HSPD-8 implementation to date

Communications and Outreach

• Regional roll-out conferences were held on the following dates:
  • April 27 in Los Angeles, California
  • May 11 in Chicago, Illinois
  • May 27 in Miami, Florida
• Roll-out conferences were held for grantees and other invitees. For more information on roll-out conferences, please email hspd8@dhs.gov.
• Roll-out Conference Presentations

Questions and Feedback

• If you have specific questions or comments on HSPD-8, please email hspd8@dhs.gov.