Response

2004 Emergency Response Guidebook: A Guidebook for First Responders During the Initial Phase of a Dangerous Goods/Hazardous Materials Incident (PDF)
U.S. Department of Transportation, 2004
This guidebook aids first responders in identifying the specific or generic hazards of the materials involved in a hazardous materials incident, while protecting themselves and the general public during the initial response phase of the incident.

2006 Hazardous Materials Team Leaders Roundtable Final Report (PDF)
International Association of Fire Chiefs Hazardous Materials Committee in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration, April 2006
This report summarizes the April 3–4, 2006 roundtable of 40 of the nation's leading authorities on hazardous materials response as they reviewed the state of the hazardous materials response community and recommended future strategies.

2008 Homeland Security Institute Annual Report (PDF)
Homeland Security Institute, 2008
The Homeland Security Institute is a congressionally chartered, federally funded research and development center that supports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In the fiscal year covered by this report, the institute studied how DHS could improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, better align its programs strategically (e.g., maritime, border, and cargo security), and serve end users in their technological needs (e.g., nonintrusive inspection systems, first responder locator systems).

After 9/11: Preventing Mass-Destruction Terrorism and Weapons Proliferation
Monterey Institute of International Studies, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, May 2002
The papers in this collection examine the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and U.S. and international responses to the attack. Also discussed are measures to avert terrorism and reduce mass-destruction threats to global security.

After the Dust Settles: The Criminal Justice System in the Aftermath of a Terrorist Attack or Large Scale Disaster (PDF)
Teresa P. Miranda, National District Attorneys Association
Using actual incidents as a backdrop, this document examines the need for courts and prosecutors to develop plans on how to handle the aftermath of a terrorist attack. In particular, it discusses the review and revision, if necessary, of existing plans and problems associated with speedy trials.

Against Desperate Peril: High Performance in Emergency Preparation and Response (PDF)
John F. Kennedy School of Government, 2006
This book argues five perspectives on how governments should structure their disaster response capabilities. It discusses the best organizational structure for responding to an emergency; the factors that determine whether a government is able to respond effectively; and precautions that may be taken to create the capacities needed to successfully manage a disaster.

America at Risk: A Homeland Security Report Card (PDF)
Progressive Policy Institute, July 2003
This report examines progress made by the Bush administration in improving homeland security and assigns letter grades to key categories: intelligence gathering and analysis, security at the state and local level, border security, critical facility security, bioterrorism protection, and civil liberties and privacy.

Anthrax Detection: DHS Cannot Ensure That Sampling Activities Will Be Validated (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, March 29, 2007
In 2001, contaminated letters laced with bacillus anthracis were mailed to two U.S. senators and to members of the media. These anthrax incidents highlighted major gaps in civilian preparedness to detect anthrax contamination in buildings. This report documents the Government Accountability Office's assessment of federal agencies' capacity to detect, contain, and manage anthrax in postal facilities.

Anthrax Investigation: Closing a Chapter
Federal Bureau of Investigation, August 6, 2008
This article reports on a press conference in which U.S. Department of Justice and FBI officials highlighted some of the information contained in the just-released Amerithrax court documents, explaining why charges were about to be brought against an anthrax researcher who took his own life before those charges could be filed.

Are We Ready for Prime Time? Assessing the State of Emergency Readiness in the Nation's Capital (PDF)
Hearing Before the U.S. Committee on Government Reform, April 2003
This hearing covered the progress of the national capital region for planning and emergency preparedness response. The first of three panels present at the hearing focused on government planning in the federal, state, and district level; the second focused on law enforcement; and the third focused on some of the private entities involved with emergency planning in the national capital region.

BBC News In Depth: London Attacks (UK Edition)
Through this web site, the British Broadcasting Corporation presents readers with up-to-date print, audio, and video reports about the London mass transit bombings of July 7, 2005. Links for streaming live radio and television coverage over the Internet are also posted, as is an RSS feed.

A Changing of the Guard: The U.S. National Guard and Homeland Defense (PDF)
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University, May 2003
This document examines how the U.S. National Guard has been and should continue to be involved in homeland security activities. It includes recommendations for improving the homeland security capabilities of the National Guard.

Chemical and Biological Defense: Army and Marine Corps Need to Establish Minimum Training Tasks and Improve Reporting for Combat Training Centers (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, January 2005
This report examines the efforts of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps' combat training centers to prepare U.S. forces for surviving and accomplishing their missions under nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons attacks.

Combating Nuclear Terrorism: Federal Efforts to Respond to Nuclear and Radiological Threats and to Protect Emergency Response Capabilities Could Be Strengthened (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, September 21, 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) maintains an emergency response capability to quickly respond to potential nuclear and radiological threats in the United States . This report discusses the capabilities and assets available to prevent and respond to potential nuclear and radiological attacks in the United States ; the physical security measures in place at two key DOE emergency response facilities and whether they are consistent with DOE guidance; and the benefits of using DOE aerial background radiation surveys to enhance emergency response capabilities.

Combating Terrorism: Federal Agencies Face Continuing Challenges in Addressing Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, March 2004
This report addresses the challenges that the U.S. government faces in deterring terrorists' use of alternative financing mechanisms and looks at many of the steps that the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau have implemented since May 2003.

Community Policing Dispatch
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
The Community Policing Dispatch newsletter discusses criminal justice issues that affect the implementation of community policing and assists law enforcement practitioners in more effectively addressing crime and social disorder in their communities.

Countering Terrorism: Integration of Practice and Theory
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2002
This report presents various terrorist scenarios and lists the actions that law enforcement personnel must take in response.

Criminal Terrorism Enforcement Since the 9/11/01 Attacks: A TRAC Special Report
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, December 2003
This report analyzes court referrals made by the U.S. Department of Justice between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2003 that were classified as terrorism or anti-terrorism and describes how the government has dealt with these matters. More specifically, it examines trends over time, types and lengths of sentences imposed, effectiveness of enforcement efforts, the investigative agencies involved, and regional variation among court cases.

Deadly Domains: Standoffs with Extremists
Anti-Defamation League, December 15, 2003
This Officer Safety Bulletin recounts an incident from Abbeville, South Carolina to explain why standoffs involving extremists are particularly dangerous and offers suggestions on how to mitigate the dangers of such incidents.

Defending the Homeland: Domestic Intelligence, Law Enforcement, and Security
Jonathan R. White, Wadsworth Publishing, © 2004
Terrorism expert Jonathan White, who provides training to the U.S. Department of Defense and state and local law enforcement through the U.S. Department of Justice, offers this tutorial on changes to police authority and responsibilities since implementation of the USA Patriot Act and other legislation enacted after September 11, 2001. He explains historical trends in violent international religious terrorism and recent domestic terrorism, noting their implications for police training, interdiction, and response. This book is available through libraries, bookstores, and online vendors.

Defense Acquisitions: An Analysis of the Special Operations Command's Management of Weapon System Programs (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, June 28, 2007
The Special Operations Command (SOCOM) was established in 1987 to oversee the training, doctrine, and equipping of all U.S. Special Operations Forces. This report includes an assessment of the types of acquisition programs SOCOM has undertaken since 2001and whether the programs are consistent with its mission, the extent to which SOCOM's programs have progressed as planned, and the challenges SOCOM faces in managing its acquisition programs.

The Department of Justice's Terrorism Task Forces (PDF)
Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, June 2005
This report assesses the roles and operations of the terrorism task forces and councils developed following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks: the Deputy Attorney General's National Security Coordinating Council, the U.S. Attorneys' Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI's National Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the FBI's Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force. The Office of the Inspector General found that the task forces and councils it evaluated aid DOJ's counterterrorism efforts. The report also recommends improvements to the operations of the task forces and councils.

Disaster Assistance: Federal Aid to the New York City Area Following the Attacks of September 11th and Challenges Confronting FEMA (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, September 2003
The report examines four broad types of assistance provided by the federal government to the New York City area after the September 11, 2001 attacks: initial response efforts, compensation for disaster-related costs and losses, infrastructure restoration, and economic revitalization. It also discusses how the federal government's response to this disaster differed from previous efforts and what challenges FEMA faces as it is subsumed into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Disaster Assistance: Information on FEMA's Post 9/11 Public Assistance to the New York City Area (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, August 2003
The post-9/11 delivery of FEMA's public assistance program in the New York City area was substantially different from FEMA's typical public assistance response. This report examines response activities and their implications on the delivery of public assistance during a possible future terrorist attack.

Disaster Reduction: A Practitioner's Guide (PDF)
U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, November 2002
This guide offers information on the provision of disaster assistance during emergencies. It emphasizes interventions that foster self-sufficiency and productivity in the affected populations.

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC): An Overview (PDF)
Congressional Research Service, July 21, 2008
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is an agreement among member states to provide assistance when disasters overwhelm a state's capacity to manage the consequences of a disaster. EMAC resolves some, but not all, potential legal and administrative obstacles that may hinder such assistance at the state level. The 110th Congress is addressing some of these obstacles in S. 1452, which would require EMAC to ensure that licensed mental health professionals with expertise in treating vulnerable populations are included in the leadership of the National Disaster Medical System and are available for deployment with Disaster Medical Assistance Teams.

Emergency Medical Services: The Forgotten First Responder (PDF)
New York University Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response, March 2005
This report discusses the role of emergency medical services (EMS) in homeland security preparedness, highlighting deficits in the funding, training, and equipment needed to enable personnel to respond to a major terrorist attack. The report, which reflects the outcome of a national roundtable of EMS and emergency officials, provides recommendations to improve the EMS response to terrorist attacks.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Could Better Integrate Information Technology with Incident Response and Recovery (PDF)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, September 2005
This report assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the information technology used by the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate to support incident response and recovery operations. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents.

Emergency Preparedness and Response: Some Issues and Challenges Associated with Major Emergency Incidents
U.S. General Accountability Office, February 23, 2006
The field of first responders, traditionally thought of as police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and those who arrive first at the scene of an emergency, has been expanded to include others not on the scene who are essential to effective response and recovery. This report examines the current status of first responder preparedness and what needs to be done to implement the leadership and coordination required to ensure the nation's ability to effectively respond during emergencies.

Emergency Preparedness: Current Emergency Alert System Has Limitations, and Development of a New Integrated System Will Be Challenging (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, March 30, 2007
This report documents a review by the Government Accountability Office of the media's ability to meet federal requirements for participating in the Emergency Alert System (EAS). It discusses stakeholder views on the challenges facing EAS, potential modifications, and the progress being made toward developing an integrated alert system.

Emergency Preparedness: Federal Funds for First Responders (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, May 2004
This report discusses the use of funds appropriated by Congress to first responders during fiscal years 2002 and 2003 and examines the reasons for delays in distributing these funds to local governments and delays in using those funds once received.

Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared (PDF)
Council on Foreign Relations, June 2003
This report describes the current levels of funding provided to first responders and makes recommendations for both improving first responders' ability to handle emergency situations and streamlining the appropriation and distribution of funds for these purposes.

Emergency Responder Guidelines (PDF)
Office for Domestic Preparedness, August 2002
This guide provides first responders with recommended training requirements (and a synopsis of the training necessary) to effectively and safely respond to an act of terrorism involving the use of weapons of mass destruction. Guidelines are organized by training level: awareness, performance, and planning and management.

Emergency Responders' Needs, Goals, and Priorities (Interim Report) (PDF)
Hicks and Associates, Inc., March 2003
This interim report provides federal planners with state and local responders' views of their operational needs, shortfalls, and priorities. It is intended to help planners formulate strategic choices and frame guidance for technology initiatives and planning to meet the needs of responders.

Emergency Response Guidebook, 2008 (PDF)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and Training, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2008
This guide aids first responders in quickly identifying the specific or generic hazards of the materials involved in a HAZMAT incident and protecting themselves and the general public during initial response to an incident. Bound copies are available from the Government Printing Office bookstore.

Emergency Response to Terrorism: Self-Study (PDF)
Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1999
This self-study course, designed primarily for fire service personnel and others engaged in fire prevention and control activities, introduces the basic concepts of first responder awareness at the scene of a potential terrorist incident.

EMI News
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Available through FEMA's free e-mail subscription service, EMI News delivers via e-mail news and training information from the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Other informative e-mail updates are also available from FEMA and EMI through the subscription service.

English-Arabic/Arabic-English Dictionary & Phrasebook
M. Gaafar and J. Wightwick, Hippocrene Books, Inc.© 2003 (2005, Sixth Printing)
This compact reference uses standard Arabic and emphasizes commonly heard terms and phrases that are recognizable throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Both the dictionary and phrasebook incorporate Arabic script and its Romanized transliteration (i.e., words are written phonetically using the English alphabet). The two-way dictionary contains important travel, geographical, and cultural terminology; the phrasebook focuses on communicating in practical situations. This publication is available through bookstores, libraries, and online vendors.

Fact Sheet: U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Canine Enforcement Program
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, August 22, 2003
This fact sheet explains how several agencies merged under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to create the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection's Canine Enforcement Program (CEP), which contains the largest number of working canine enforcement teams (more than 1,200) of any federal law enforcement agency. CEP has developed training courses and has trained and deployed canine teams in an array of specialized detection capabilities.

The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin is distributed to domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies and other professionals in the criminal justice field to present information on a wide range of issues facing the law enforcement community. Full-length articles feature a variety of topics in both operations and administration. Shorter columns highlight the programs and procedures that work for other agencies. Legal Digest articles present the latest legal issues in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner.

Federal Homeland Security Assistance to America's Hometowns: A Survey and Report From the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security (PDF)
The Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security, October 2003
At the end of July 2003, the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security, the House Democratic Caucus, and several Democratic Members of Congress distributed a survey on Hometown Security to local governments, local officials, police, firefighters and other frontline workers to determine the level of assistance and guidance they receive from the federal government and Department of Homeland Security. This report presents the survey findings.

Federal Response Plan
Federal Emergency Management Agency, April 1999
This response plan outlines how the Federal Government will assist state and local governments when a major disaster or emergency overwhelms their ability to respond effectively to save lives; protect public health, safety, and property; and restore their communities. Resulting from a signed agreement among 27 federal departments and agencies (including the American Red Cross), the plan describes the policies, planning assumptions, concept of operations, response and recovery actions, and responsibilities of each department and agency.

Federal Response Plan (Interim) (PDF)
U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, January 2003
With a signed agreement from 27 federal departments and agencies, this document provides a mechanism for coordinating the delivery of federal assistance and resources to help states and localities respond to a major disaster or emergency. The document supports federal emergency operations plans developed to address specific hazards.

Five Years After 9/11: Essays on Counterterrorism, Counterinsurgency, and Homeland Security (PDF)
RAND Corporation, September 2006
This issue of the RAND Review includes the following articles: “True Grit: To Counter Terror, We Must Conquer Our Own Fear,” by Brian Michael Jenkins; “Grassroots Defenses: Community Leaders, Businesses, and Citizens Can Help Prevent Suicide Attacks,” by Bruce Hoffman; “From Algeria to Iraq: All But Forgotten from Nearly 50 Years Ago,” by David Galula; “Protecting Emergency Responders at Sites of Collapsed Buildings,” by Henry H. Willis; and “Public Health Preparedness: An Opportunity and a Challenge,” by Nicole Lurie.

First Interim Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (PDF)
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, July 2003
This report offers an initial evaluation of the work being done by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Specifically, the report highlights the status of the commission's work as it relates to the many government agencies involved in the investigation.

Forging America's New Normalcy: Securing Our Homeland, Protecting Our Liberty
Gilmore Commission, RAND Corporation, December 2003
This fifth and final report (7.9 MB PDF) from the Gilmore Commission attempts to project a future equilibrium state of well-established and sustained measures to combat terrorism. It focuses on conceptualizing a strategic vision for the nation that will have achieved an acceptable level of awareness, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities to cope with the uncertain and ambiguous threat of terrorism and all hazards. It also delivers specific findings and recommendations on process and structure that must be addressed to move from general strategies into specific accomplishments.

From Flood Control to Integrated Water Resource Management: Lessons for the Gulf Coast from Flooding in Other Places in the Last Sixty Years (PDF)
RAND Corporation, October 2006
The devastation and loss of life in the Gulf coast region of the United States following the 2005 hurricane season has led to considerable debate about how to facilitate recovery from the damage and mitigate the consequences of future floods. By analyzing four major floods since 1948, the authors conclude that plans and structures must be in place to mitigate the potential damage of floods even when major floods are few and far between; the critical concept of integrated water resource management policy—particularly its implication that flood damage control includes conceding land to the water from time to time—is necessary but may be difficult to accept; delineating roles and responsibilities clearly in advance produces better outcomes; and out of disaster can come improvements to the social and physical infrastructure that go beyond flood protection.

Funding Report: Helping Our Nation's First Responders
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, June 2003
On June 13, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security announced the award of nearly $400 million to 10 states to help enhance response and preparedness capabilities for first responders and state and local governments.

Gearing Up and Getting There: Improving Local Response to Chemical Terrorism (PDF)
RAND Corporation, April 2004
Using Los Angeles, California, as a case study, this report identifies policies and organizational options at the local level that have the potential to save lives and reduce injuries from a chemical attack.

Global War on Terrorism: DOD Needs to Take Action to Encourage Fiscal Discipline and Optimize the Use of Tools Intended to Improve GWOT Cost Reporting (PDF)
Government Accountability Office, November 6, 2007
Since the September 2001 terrorist attacks, Congress has provided about $543 billion, as of May 2007, to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Prior Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports have found DOD's reported GWOT obligation data unreliable and have had problems with transparency over certain costs. In response, DOD changed its reporting procedures and now requires components to perform a monthly variance analysis on obligation data and to include affirmation statements attesting to the accuracy of cost data. Under the Comptroller General's authority to conduct evaluations, GAO assessed (1) the outlook of DOD's reported GWOT obligations for fiscal year 2007 and funding requests for fiscal year 2008, (2) the effect of changes in DOD's GWOT funding guidance, and (3) DOD's progress in implementing variance analysis and affirmation statements.

Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report into the London Terrorist Attacks on 7 July 2005 (PDF)
U.K. Parliament Intelligence and Security Committee, May 2006
This report describes a number of conclusions and recommendations based on examination of intelligence and assessment prior to the July terrorist attacks in London.

A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
National Institute of Justice, June 2000
This guide recommends procedures for public safety personnel to follow at every explosion scene, focusing on those related to identifying, collecting, and preserving evidence. The guide discusses procuring equipment and tools, prioritizing initial response efforts, evaluating and documenting the scene, processing evidence at the scene, and completing and recording the scene investigation.

Guidelines for Responding to and Managing a Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorist Event (PDF)
U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Demand, December 2003
This playbook provides jurisdictions and agencies with guidelines for preparing for and responding to an attack involving chemical weapons.

Homeland Defense: National Guard Bureau Needs to Clarify Civil Support Teams' Mission and Address Management Challenges (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, May 2006
Congress has approved the development of National Guard Civil Support Teams (CSTs) to identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive weapons; assess consequences; advise civil authorities on response measures; and assist with requests for additional support. This report addresses the extent to which CSTs are ready to conduct their mission and the effective administrative mechanisms already in place.

Homeland Defense: Preliminary Observations on How Overseas and Domestic Missions Impact DOD Forces (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, April 2003
This report reviews the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD's) participation in domestic missions. It addresses (1) the primary differences between military and nonmilitary missions; (2) how DOD evaluates nonmilitary requests; (3) how the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act affects DOD's nonmilitary missions; (4) whether current management organizations, plans, and forces are adequate to support DOD's domestic missions; and (5) the impact of overseas and domestic missions on military personnel tempo.

Homeland Defense: Steps Have Been Taken to Improve U.S. Northern Command's Coordination with States and the National Guard Bureau, but Gaps Remain (PDF)
Government Accountability Office, April 16, 2008
In 2002, the U.S. Department of Defense established U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) to conduct homeland defense and civil support missions in and around the United States. The National Guard Bureau functions as NORTHCOM's formal link to the states. This report assesses NORTHCOM's ongoing efforts to coordinate with the states and the National Guard Bureau in planning, exercises, and other preparedness activities.

Homeland Security Advisory System: Preliminary Observations Regarding Threat Level Increases from Yellow to Orange (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, March 2004
This report presents preliminary observations on the operations of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS), including guidance and information that federal, state, and local government agencies reportedly use to determine protective measures when the threat level is raised to high (code orange) alert; protective measures implemented during and costs associated with code orange alert periods; and any threat advisory systems that federal, state, or local government agencies had in place before HSAS.

Homeland Security: DHS's Efforts to Enhance First Responders' All-Hazards Capabilities Continue to Evolve (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, July 11, 2005
This report evaluates the policies and strategies the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed for an all-hazards emergency management approach to enhance the capabilities of state and local governments to prepare for, respond to, and recover from any emergency event, including terrorist attacks and natural or accidental disasters. DHS is the primary federal entity responsible for ensuring that first responders have the capabilities they need to coordinate such a response. This report also examines how first responders' emergency management for terrorist attacks will differ from their response to natural or accidental disasters, and what emphasis DHS has placed on state and local first responder funding to enhance all-hazards emergency management capabilities.

Homeland Security: Federal Action Needed to Address Security Challenges at Chemical Facilities (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, February 2004
This report offers recommendations for developing a comprehensive national strategy for securing chemical facilities. The strategy should identify high-risk facilities based on several factors, including the level of threat and information collected industrywide on security preparedness; specify roles and responsibilities of partnering federal agencies; develop appropriate information-sharing mechanisms; and develop a legislative proposal that requires facilities to expeditiously assess their vulnerability to terrorist attacks and take corrective action when necessary.

Homeland Security: Federal Leadership Needed to Facilitate Interoperable Communications Between First Responders (PDF)
U.S. Government Accountability Office, September 8, 2004
Because effective communications are needed to help first responders save lives, this report addresses the status of interoperable wireless communications nationwide, potential roles governments can play in improving communications, and how to structure grant programs to support public-sector efforts in this area.

Homeland Security Information Network Could Support Information Sharing More Effectively (PDF)
Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, June 2006
This report debates whether the secure, unclassified network that links the Department of Homeland Security with police, fire, and emergency departments nationwide is ineffective in supporting information sharing among federal, state, and local officials.

Homeland Security: Risk Communication Principles May Assist in Refinement of the Homeland Security Advisory System (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, March 2004
This report examines how the Homeland Security Advisory System operates, specifically the types of terrorist threat information shared with the public and guidance on how to act.

How To Respond to an Anthrax Threat: Advanced Module (PDF)
U.S. General Services Administration, 2001
This training module, intended for managers and trainers in mail facilities, describes forms that anthrax may take, symptoms and effects of an anthrax exposure, treatment for exposure to anthrax, steps to take immediately if the presence of anthrax is suspected, and resources available to help in the event of a threat.

Indicators and Warnings for Home Made Explosives
Technical Support Working Group, U.S. Department of Defense, March 2008
Designed for military and civilian first responders and for federal, state, and local government personnel, this guidebook provides awareness-level information that enables personnel to rapidly determine the presence of homemade explosives. This is a restricted and controlled item available through the Government Printing Office bookstore, only upon approval by the Technical Support Working Group.

Information, Technology, and Coordination: Lessons from the World Trade Center Response (PDF)
Center for Technology in Government, June 2004
This study provides lessons for improving crisis response and emergency management and planning based on how organizations responded to the World Trade Center disaster. The main lessons that emerged pertain to the ways in which information needs, resources, technology, and policies interacted with planning, preparedness, coordination, and collaboration among those involved.

Initial National Response Plan (NRP)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, September 30, 2003
Pending development and publication of the full NRP, this document describes the domestic incident management authorities, roles, and responsibilities of the Secretary of Homeland Security. It also provides interim guidance on federal coordinating structures and processes for domestic incident management.

Initial National Response Plan (NRP) Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, October 10, 2003
This fact sheet summarizes the elements of the NRP, which seeks to integrate the current family of federal domestic prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery plans into a single all-disciplines, all-hazards plan.

Initial Results on Availability of Terrorism Insurance in Specific Geographic Markets (PDF)
Government Accountability Office, July 11, 2008
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, resulted in insured losses of $32.5 billion. After the attacks, insurers largely stopped offering terrorism insurance coverage to commercial property owners. To help restore confidence and stability in property insurance markets, Congress enacted the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002. This report assesses whether the capacity or ability of the insurance industry to provide terrorism insurance is constrained in any geographic markets.

International Association of Chiefs of Police Training Keys
Spurred by the recent terrorist attacks in London, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has published two training guides on suicide bombers. IACP Training Key(r) #581 Suicide (Homicide) Bombers: Part I (PDF) discusses the profiles of suicide bombers, including possible characteristics and beliefs that lead to committing these acts. IACP Training Key(r) #582 Suicide (Homicide) Bombers: Part II (PDF) explains how law enforcement and other first responders should react to these incidents. Both are available to law enforcement at no charge.

Investigations of Terrorist Financing, Money Laundering, and Other Financial Crimes (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, February 20, 2004
This report focuses on the processes through which the FBI, acting as the lead agency, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau jointly investigate terrorism financing.

Joint Inquiry Into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 (PDF)
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Intelligence, December 2002
This is the declassified version of a final report approved by and filed with the U.S. Congress on December 20, 2002. It presents findings—both factual and systemic—of a study of the events leading up to and happening on September 11, 2001.

Law Enforcement Investigations, Field Manual 3-19.13 (PDF)
Department of the Army, January 2005
This manual, for military police and other military investigators, is a guide to the fundamentals of investigative procedure.

Law Enforcement Officers Guide for Responding to Chemical Terrorist Incidents (PDF)
U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Demand, January 2003
This quick reference guide helps law enforcement officers identify and respond to attacks involving chemical warfare agents.

Law Enforcement Traumatic Stress: Clinical Syndromes and Intervention Strategies
L. Miller, The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
This article describes the types of critical incidents and other stressors experienced by law enforcement personnel, focusing on those most relevant to police officers, criminal investigators, and other law enforcement responders. Also discussed are the critical interventions and psychotherapeutic strategies that have been found most practical and useful for helping cops in distress. This article is for law enforcement supervisors and administrators who want to understand how to provide the best possible psychological services to the men and women under their command.

Lessons Learned in a Homeland Security Crisis: Montgomery County, MD and the Sniper Attack of 2002
Government Electronics and Information Technology Association (GEIA), July 2003
Developed by GEIA's Homeland Security Task Force, this report presents facts, analysis, success stories, and lessons learned in the confines of two focus areas: the deployment and use of information technology and the effectiveness of federal, state, and local partnerships in handling a crisis.

Local Law Enforcement Responds to Terrorism: Lessons in Prevention and Preparedness (PDF)
Community Oriented Policing Services, April 2002
This publication provides local decisionmakers with information on options to consider when crafting a counter-terrorism strategy, including examples of technologies and programs used in agencies across the country. Presenting strategies for information management and data sharing, threat analysis, community coordination, and preventing and responding to terrorism, this resource will help police agencies conduct security needs assessments and implement effective systems and procedures.

The Logic of Suicide Terrorism
Bruce Hoffman, June 2003
Based on a review of the Israeli experience, terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman discusses the strategy behind suicide bombings and steps that U.S. police, military, and intelligence agencies can take to reduce the threat of suicide terrorism in this country.

London Assembly Report of the 7 July Review Committee (PDF)
Greater London Authority, June 2006
This official inquiry into the London Subway Bombings of July 7, 2005 includes an analysis of the attackers and the emergency response. It also states that emergency planning needs to include an outward focus to remind first responders that they are dealing with individuals, not just an event, and that all services must work together for the public good.

Man Charged With Unlawful Possession of Biological Toxin After Ricin Discovered in His Las Vegas Hotel Room
U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney, District of Nevada, April 16, 2008
A man was arrested after his release from a Las Vegas hospital and charged with possession of a biological toxin (ricin), unregistered firearms, and firearms not identified by serial number.

Maritime Security: Information-Sharing Efforts Are Improving (PDF)
Congressional Research Service, July 10, 2006
This testimony summarizes Maritime Security: New Structures Have Improved Information Sharing, but Security Clearance Processing Requires Further Attention.

Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Training Manual (PDF)
Office for Victims of Crime and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004
This manual contains the basics of what mental health care providers, crime victim assistance professionals, and faith-based counselors need to know to provide appropriate mental health support following incidents involving criminal mass victimization. The manual includes field and training resources such as handouts, overheads, and rapid field training modules.

Michigan State University Libraries, Criminal Justice Resources
The Social Sciences Collections section of the Michigan State University Libraries has compiled the following links to, and abstracts describing, web-accessible resources in several first responder and homeland security areas of interest: Agro-Security, Bioterrorism (including biological and chemical threats), Bomb Threats and Radiological Incidents, Emergency Management, Terrorism Groups and Related Issues, Transportation Security, and Weapons of Mass Destruction

Money Laundering in Digital Currencies (PDF)
National Drug Intelligence Center, June 3, 2008
Digital currencies combine the intrinsic value of gold and other precious metals, as well as the designated value of national currencies, with the worldwide reach of the Internet to create an ideal mechanism for international money laundering. Users can anonymously fund digital currency accounts, send those funds (sometimes in unlimited amounts) to other digital currency accounts worldwide, and effectively exchange the funds for foreign currencies—often while bypassing U.S. regulatory oversight. This assessment describes digital currencies and the digital currency system and how they are used to launder and move funds.

National Level Exercise Begins in May
Federal Emergency Management Agency, April 24, 2008
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Exercise Program conducted a combined functional and full-scale exercise from May 1 through May 8. This National Level Exercise was designed to merge the objectives of U.S. Northern Command's Ardent Sentry 2008 exercise, FEMA National Continuity Program's Eagle Horizon 2008 exercise (formerly known as Forward Challenge), and FEMA Disaster Operation's Hurricane Preparedness Exercise.

National Response Plan (PDF)
Department of Homeland Security, December 2004
In Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, the President directed the development of a new National Response Plan to align federal coordination structures, capabilities, and resources into a unified, all-discipline, and all-hazards approach to domestic incident management. This approach is unique and far reaching in that, for the first time, it eliminates critical seams and ties together a complete spectrum of incident management activities to include the prevention of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from terrorism, major natural disasters, and other major emergencies. The end result will be vastly improved coordination among federal, state, local, and tribal organizations to help save lives and protect America's communities by increasing the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of incident management.

National Transportation Safety Board: Progress Made in Management Practices, Investigation Priorities, Training Center Use, and Information Security, but These Areas Continue to Need Improvement (PDF)
Government Accountability Office, April 23, 2008
This testimony addresses the National Transportation Safety Board's progress in following leading practices in selected management areas, increasing the efficiency of aspects of investigating accidents and conducting safety studies, increasing the utilization of its training center, and improving information security.

The Need To Know: Information Sharing Lessons for Disaster Response
Testimony before the House Committee on Government Reform, March 30, 2006
This testimony addresses the status of government information sharing in times of crisis—in particular, the storing, moving, and accessing of information. It also explores “information gaps” and future implications, as well as past failures to act decisively because information was sketchy at best.

New Standard Protocol for Suspicious Powder Sampling
National Institute of Standards and Technology, March 30, 2007
Through an arrangement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a recently developed methodology standard for collecting, containing, and transporting small samples of unknown powders suspected of being hazardous biological agents is being made available, free of charge, to local and state emergency first responder teams and other interested parties. The standard describes a tested protocol for emergency first responders to use when they are confronted with an unknown powdered substance that they suspect may be a biological threat after an initial assessment for explosive, radiological, or chemical hazards.

Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (PDF)
Office of Domestic Preparedness, September 2004
This fact sheet discusses the development and implementation of national programs by the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP). SLGCP's programs will enhance the capacity of state and local agencies to respond to incidents of terrorism, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incidents, through coordinated training exercises, equipment acquisition, and technical assistance.

Pipeline Safety: Preliminary Information on the Office of Pipeline Safety's Enforcement Activities (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, June 15, 2004
This report reviews the Office of Pipeline Safety's (OPS's) enforcement
strategy and offers recommendations for making its goals and objectives
effectively measurable. It also recounts OPS's successful development of
a risk-based regulatory approach aimed at changing the safety culture
of the pipeline industry.

Preparing for Terrorism: The Public Safety Communicator's Guide
George Buck, Lori Buck, and Barry Mogil, Delmar Learning, 2003
Domestic and international terrorism serve as the backdrop of this book that focuses on preparing communications center staff and their families for a terrorist event by providing them with well-thought-out employee emergency plans and contingencies. Protecting the physical security of the building, communications towers, backup sites, and cellular and landline telephone overload are among the topics covered.

Preserving Security and Democratic Freedoms in the War on Terrorism (PDF)
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, November 2004
This final report of the Long-Term Legal Strategy Project for Preserving Security and Democratic Freedoms in the War on Terrorism, administered by Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, includes analysis and legislative recommendations to deal with the legal challenges of a post-9/11 era.

Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned From Terrorist Attacks (PDF)
Rand Corporation, 2003
This report presents a summary of a December 2001 working conference, sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Attending were emergency workers who responded to the bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, and the anthrax incidents that occurred during autumn 2001. This report addresses the equipment, training, and information required to protect emergency first responders as they meet the challenge of protecting their communities.

Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume II: Community Views of Safety and Health Risks and Personal Protection Needs
RAND Corporation, 2003
This report examines the hazards that emergency responders (e.g., firefighters, emergency medical service responders, police officers, emergency management officials, technology and services suppliers, researchers, and program managers) face and the personal protective technology (e.g., protective garments, respiratory protection, and environmental monitoring and communications equipment) and practices and protocols needed to contend with those hazards. The findings are based on indepth discussions with 190 members of the emergency responder community.

Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume III: Safety Management in Disaster and Terrorism Response (PDF)
Brian A. Jackson, John C. Baker, M. Susan Ridgely, James T. Bartis, and Herbert I. Linn,
RAND Corporation, June 2004
This report provides a comprehensive set of pre- and postevent strategies and tactics for enhancing the safety of personnel who respond to major disasters, both manmade and natural. It addresses protection against injury, illness, and death and focuses on preparedness (especially planning and training) and management as means of controlling and reducing such hazards.

Protecting Your Community From Terrorism: The Strategies for Local Law Enforcement Series
Volume 1: Local-Federal Partnerships
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), March 2003
With support provided by COPS, this PERF initiative will produce five white papers to address practical law enforcement concerns about preventing and preparing for terrorist acts. The first installment seeks to help local law enforcement officials resolve immediate problems related to their new counter-terrorism role, such as promoting effective partnerships, security clearances/information sharing, joint terrorism task forces, FBI strategies, intelligence, and training/awareness.

Protection, Control, and Accounting of Nuclear Materials: International Challenges and National Programs Workshop Summary
Committee on Best Practices for Nuclear Material Protection, Control, and Accounting; National Research Council; The National Academies Press, 2005
This workshop considered the inherent security threats of nuclear materials used and stored worldwide that support nuclear medicine, nuclear energy, and nuclear weapons programs as well as other legitimate activities.

Providing Homeland Security Knowledge Resources to Emergency Responders (PDF)
Office for Domestic Preparedness, July 2005
This fact sheet provides an overview of programs the Office for Domestic Preparedness has established recently to provide critical information and resources to the emergency response community. The programs discussed include the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders Program (SAVER), Lessons Learned Information System (LLIS), Responder Knowledge Base, Terrorism Knowledge Base, and Terrorism Library.

Public-Private Partnership for a Public Safety Network: Governance and Policy
Congressional Research Service, March 24, 2008
This report summarizes the Federal Communications Commission's rules for the creation of a public-private partnership to build and manage a national communications network for public safety use.

Reconciliation Strategies in Iraq (PDF)
United States Institute of Peace, 2008
This report examines effective processes of relationship building and dispute resolution, drawing on the author's 3 years of working with Iraqis. The report presents a series of steps for breaking out of a cycle of revenge and presents an effective negotiation process with illustrations of successful dispute resolution facilitated by trained Iraqis.

Report Card for America's Infrastructure: 2003 Progress Report, An Update to the 2001 Report Card (PDF)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), September 2003
This report examines current trends for addressing the nation's deteriorating infrastructure and discusses actions the federal government should take to bring conditions up to acceptable levels. ASCE did not issue new grades from the 2001 report because conditions and performance have not changed significantly.

Report to Congress on Implementation of Section 1001 of the USA PATRIOT Act (PDF)
Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, March 2005
This report covers the investigation of complaints alleging abuses of the USA PATRIOT Act from June through December 2004.

Report to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States: The FBI's Counterterrorism Program Since September 2001 (PDF)
Federal Bureau of Investigation, April 2004
This report discusses the FBI’s response to the attacks of September 2001 and focuses on the agency’s transformation, including details of its enhanced implementation of counter-terrorism operations, intelligence capabilities, modernization of business practices and technology, and improved coordination with federal partners.

Responding to a Biological or Chemical Threat: A Practical Guide (PDF)
U.S. Department of State, September 2001
This brochure provides an overview of the chemical and biological terrorist threat and suggests some basic means of detection, defense, and decontamination.

Responding to Incidents of National Consequence: Recommendations for America's Fire and Emergency Services Based on the Events of September 11, 2001, and Other Similar Incidents (PDF)
Federal Emergency Management Agency, May 2004
This report provides guidance to fire departments and emergency services for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from major multijurisdictional local incidents that have national consequences and may involve national resources.

Responding to the Needs of September 11 Victims: Lessons Learned From the States
Office for Victims of Crime, 2005
This monograph discusses the experiences of state Victims of Crime Act administrator agencies when they provided services to victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The report provides a frontline perspective and offers lessons for state, federal, and private decisionmakers on organizing effective responses to mass criminal victimization.

Secretary Ridge Announces New Financial Investigations Initiatives
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, July 2003
On July 8, 2003, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced programs to safeguard the nation's financial systems against criminal exploitation. The programs include Operation Cornerstone, Electronic Crimes Task Forces, and SHARE (Systematic Homeland Approach to Reducing Exploitation). Operation Cornerstone is a financial investigations initiative designed to prosecute money laundering crimes and help the private sector shore up potential weaknesses in financial systems. The U.S. Secret Service's highly successful Electronic Crimes Task Forces program is being expanded to four additional cities. Through the SHARE program, officials from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement will jointly conduct semiannual meetings with executive members of the financial and trade communities affected by money laundering, identity theft, and other financial crimes.

The Secrets of Teaching Disaster Preparedness
Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, 2006
Most civilians are not prepared to face a disaster or even a family emergency. This article is for those who want to teach others, including their own families, to be safer, more self-reliant, and better prepared. It identifies several “learning obstacles” that prevent individuals and families from being as emergency ready as they should be, and discusses ways to overcome them.

Securing Arizona: A Roadmap for Arizona Homeland Security (PDF)
April 2003
This document summarizes Arizona's plan for establishing a long-term, fiscally prudent approach to homeland security and outlines a framework for improving the state's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to future acts of terrorism.

Security Clearance Process for State and Local Law Enforcement
(PDF)
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2003
This brochure explains when security clearances are necessary for state and local law enforcement officers and how they can apply for clearance to access classified information regarding terrorism.

Security Transformation: Report of the Belfer Center Conference on Military Transformation (PDF)
U.S. Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, March 2003
This report summarizes discussions from a workshop addressing the unique demands of creating a Department of Homeland Security and striking a balance between its role and the role of the intelligence community as the process relates to U.S. goals, the armed forces, and national security organization.

September 11: One Year Later (PDF)
U.S. Department of State, September 2002
A special electronic journal of the U.S. Department of State, this edition looks at pressing issues stemming from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including the transformation of the international security environment, economic costs of terrorism, poverty as a breeding ground for terrorism, and U.S. constitutional questions brought on by the war against terrorism.

September 11: Overview of Federal Disaster Assistance to the New York City Area (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, October 2003
This report describes how much and what type of federal assistance has been provided to the New York City area through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Internal Revenue Service. It also discusses how the federal government's response to the September 11 disaster differed from its response to previous disasters.

The September 11 Records
New York Times, 2004
New York City has released its audio recordings and written transcriptions from September 11, 2001 to the public. They include more than 12,000 pages of oral histories in the voices of 503 firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians. The oral histories of dispatch transmissions are transcribed verbatim. They have not been edited to omit coarse language.

State and Local Actions for Homeland Security (PDF)
Office of Homeland Security, 2002
This document supplies a snapshot of the homeland security actions being taken at the state, county, and city levels, including efforts to provide security, maintain public safety, protect public infrastructure, and respond to the consequences of terrorist attacks through disaster relief and public health agencies.

State and Local Officials: Still Kept in the Dark About Homeland Security (PDF)
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, August 2003
This report makes recommendations to improve the information breach between the federal government and state and local first responders during crises. Recommendations are based on the results of a study that obtained views from first responders. In general, state and local officials reported that no effective mechanism currently exists that allows local law enforcement officials to systematically provide information to or receive information from the federal government.

State Election Laws: Overview of Statutes Regarding Emergency Election Postponement Within the State (PDF)
Congressional Research Service, September 22, 2004
Because an emergency or disaster, including a terrorist attack, could occur immediately before or during a scheduled election, some states have enacted statutes providing for the temporary postponement of elections. This report summarizes seven state statutes.

The State of U.S. Homeland Security (PDF)
The Brookings Institution, June 2006
This report comes from a panel discussion held on June 1, 2006 at which the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, spoke about the department's ability to respond to immigration problems, terrorist attacks, and major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the lessons learned from these issues and events.

Strategic Framework: Fragile States and Societies Emerging from Conflict (PDF)
United States Institute of Peace, 2007
This brochure outlines a flexible strategy for rebuilding states and societies emerging from conflict. The framework takes into account all potential post-conflict actors and envisions objectives to attain democratic rule of law, social harmony, and economic well-being.

Surveillance for World Trade Center Disaster Health Effects Among Survivors of Collapsed and Damaged Buildings
R.M. Brackbill et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 7, 2006
Survivors of collapsed or damaged buildings from the attack on the World Trade Center were among those most exposed to injury hazards, air pollution, and traumatic events. This report summarizes data from health outcomes collected during interviews conducted from September 5, 2003 to the close of the World Trade Center Health Registry enrollment on November 20, 2004.

Talking Through Disasters: The Federal Role in Emergency Communications
Heritage Foundation, July 2006
Congress and the Bush Administration have wrestled with the challenge of improving emergency management communications in situations such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the attacks of September 11 in 2001. This document argues that the correct approach would include adhering to a set of policies that promote effective public-private sharing of the emergency management electromagnetic spectrum, creating a national capability to deploy a wide-area emergency management communications network for catastrophic disasters and establishing coherent national leadership for emergency response communications.

Terrorism Financing and State Responses in Comparative Perspective
J. Giraldo, H. Trinkunas, and B. Zellen, Center for Contemporary Conflict, Conference Report, November 2004
The Naval Postgraduate School hosted a conference on terrorism financing, which took place in late 2004. This report summarizes discussions of lessons learned regarding terrorist financing and various government responses to it as part of the continuing global war on terror. Methods by which nations can monitor, track, freeze, regulate, and close financial channels long used by terrorist organizations are highlighted.

Terrorism: The Impact on State and Local Law Enforcement
Major Cities Chiefs Association, June 2002
This report summarizes discussion among urban law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada about the war on terrorism. Issues discussed include threat advisories, security clearances, training needs, homeland security, technology, and obstacles facing Canadian authorities.

Terrorism Insurance: Effects of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, May 18, 2004
This report assesses the U.S. Department of the Treasury's progress in implementing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) of 2002 and describes how TRIA has affected the terrorism insurance market. TRIA helps commercial property-casualty policyholders to obtain terrorism insurance and gives the insurance industry time to develop mechanisms to provide such insurance after the act expires on December 31, 2005.

Terrorism Insurance: Implementation of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (PDF)
U.S. General Accounting Office, April 2004
This report looks at the accomplishments of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's implementation of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) and identifies areas in which improvements need to be made. Passed by Congress in 2002, TRIA helps those who hold casualty insurance for commercial property to obtain terrorism insurance and gives the insurance industry time to develop mechanisms to provide such insurance after the act expires on December 31, 2005.

Terrorist CBRN: Materials and Effects
Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Intelligence, May 2003
This unclassified guide, prepared for government disaster response teams, summarizes chemical and biological weapons agents and radiological and nuclear devices available to al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

The Path to a Counterterrorism Doctrine (PDF)
Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, 2008
David Cid discusses past terrorism incidents in the United States and makes suggestions for creating effective terrorism prevention.

Three Charged In Federal Courthouse Bombing (PDF)
Office of the United States Attorney, Southern District of California, August 6, 2008
A federal grand jury sitting in San Diego, California has handed up a superseding indictment charging three defendants with the use of a weapon of mass destruction and presenting other charges arising from the bombing of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse in San Diego on May 4, 2008, and a related bombing of a Federal Express distribution center on 47th Street in San Diego on April 25, 2008.

Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror (PDF)
RAND Corporation, 2005
This report provides summaries of presentations and discussions from a September 2004 conference held in Washington, D.C. entitled “Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror.” The event addressed the following four issues: understanding the nature of the terrorist threat; taking direct action against terrorists and terrorist organizations; reducing support for terrorists; and protecting the homeland.

Tracking Federal Homeland Security Funds Sent to the 50 State Governments: Third Mayors Report to the Nation, A 215-City/50-State Survey (PDF)
United States Conference of Mayors, June 2004
This report assesses the flow of federal homeland security funds through the states to the cities and reveals that 52 percent of the 231 cities surveyed have not received homeland security funds from their state block grant program. The survey examines 10 different homeland security programs designed to strengthen cities' abilities to protect their residents.

Tracking and Predicting the Atmospheric Dispersion of Hazardous Releases: Implications for Homeland Security
Report Brief
Full Report
The National Academies Press, 2003
In this report, the National Research Council calls for a nationally coordinated effort to examine existing models for tracking the dispersion of hazardous agents and the development of new ones. Also recommended is a single federal point of contact, such as a 1-800 phone number, that can be used to connect emergency responders across the country to appropriate dispersion modeling centers for immediate assistance.

Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces: Facts and Issues (PDF)
K. Bea, Congressional Research Service, January 10, 2005
Since the early 1990s, the federal government has funded, trained, and certified urban search and rescue task forces. Twenty-eight task forces are located throughout the country and may be activated, based on their proximity to an emergency, when the President issues a major disaster declaration. This report provides basic information on the task forces and presents some issues that Congress may address.

We The People: Homeland Security From the Citizens' Perspective (PDF)
Council for Excellence in Government, May 2004
This report captures views on homeland security from U.S. citizens and offers recommendations for individual and collective action at the national, state, and local levels; in the public and private sectors; and in communities and homes across America.