Frustrated Governors Create 50-State Homeland Security Panel

[Woodmonkey]

Seeking a bigger say in homeland security decisions, the nation's governors are creating a new, 50-state panel to give the states a single voice on national plans to prepare for threats from terrorists and natural disasters. Full Story

TRC Analysis:
The creation of this homeland security panel by the nation’s governors is an example of the frustrations being suffered by state homeland security directors. The AP article points out that the formation of this panel follows complaints registered in earlier in 2006 from a survey of homeland security directors. As discussed in the April 19, 2006 WAR Report, a survey of a majority of the homeland security directors indicated they were dissatisfied with: (1) the usefulness and specificity of intelligence sent by federal agencies to the states, (2) multiple burdens placed on National Guard units, and (3) the lack of preparedness for natural disasters.

"The nation's state homeland security advisors are charged with the critical mission of protecting the residents of their state 365 days a year. These men and women are on the front lines every day and have a wealth of expertise and knowledge that should be part of any national dialogue about America's security," said Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (see photo). "This council is a unique opportunity for states to have a unified voice in the ongoing dialogue about how best to prevent and address homeland security and disaster concerns."

Major General Tim Lowenberg (see photo), Adjutant General of the Washington State National Guard and Director of State Homeland Security, indicated that the newly formed council will help inform governors and will stress to the federal government that states want to be included in homeland security and disaster planning efforts. He went on to cite the lack of consistent, in-depth communication between the federal and state Departments of Homeland Security as a core problem. Maj. Gen. Lowenberg stated, “We do have periodic conference calls hosted by DHS;” however, “those conference calls rarely last more than 30, 45 minutes.” The survey indicating widespread dissatisfaction and now the bottom-up effort to form a homeland surety panel to share information and intelligence among state homeland security directors should send a wake up call to DHS that feds need to listen to the officials that not only are responsible for the development of plans but will also craft the response to the next disaster or terrorist attack and form a trusted social network. “If we speak with one unified voice, it’ll help,” said a Minnesota public safety commissioner. “Absent that, we’re not going to do anything. We’re a voice in the wilderness.”

"Planning and coordination at the local, state and federal levels are the keys to ensuring we are prepared to protect America," said Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (see photo). "Governors believe the council will be an excellent forum for state homeland security directors to share best practices and collaborate on issues of concern to all states."

The top challenges facing the states today are the same ones that officials were discussing, following the 9/11 attacks (Terrorist Incident): improving communications, sharing of actionable intelligence, and exchanging resource information. This kind of information is not shared without a trusted relationship being in place, so building technically compartmented information systems and arranging periodic conference calls will not fix the problem. However, this bottom-up approach by the National Governors' Association is a step toward building a trusted relationship among the state homeland security advisors that should allow them to share best practices and to exchange ideas. Then, during a time of crisis quickly committee members and their associates can communicate actionable intelligence and resource information because they have formed a trusted social network and relationship.

The Source

[Carnage_59]

I really love this.

States taking back their rights from the feds. People keep blaming the federal government and in some cases rightfully so.

Unfortunately, W. did a knee jerk reaction in creating this massive bureaucracy called Homeland Security. Well, if we have a Department of Homeland Security, why do we have or EVEN NEED a National Security Agency, a Department of Defense, a National Reconaissance Office and the rest????

TSA's a danmed joke, too.

States and especially American people need to go back to their original rights and the responsibilities that come with them.