Defining the role of the environmental health profession in homeland security.

* The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a six-point agenda:

1. increase overall preparedness, particularly for catastrophic events;

2. create better transportation security systems;

3. strengthen border security and interior enforcement, and reform immigration processes;

4. enhance information sharing;

5. improve DHS financial management, human resource development, procurement, and information technology; and

6. align the DHS organization to maximize mission performance.

* DHS provides resources and training both for professional first responders and for citizen volunteers.

* Training programs include

-- ODP Training and National Domestic Preparedness Consortium--direct training for state and local jurisdictions;

-- Compendium of Federal Terrorism Training for State and Local Audiences--searchable online database;

-- Emergency Education Network--first-responder-information programming schedule;

-- National Fire Academy--training and education for members of fire services and allied professionals;

-- Noble Training Center--hospital-based medical training in disaster preparedness and response; and

-- Emergency Management Institute--training to help organizations and individuals work together effectively

* DHS provides the following information resources:

-- National Incident Management System Integration Center--resources to assist state, local, tribal, and federal agencies adopt and implement the National Incident Management System (NIMS);

-- NIMS--online introduction to the principles of NIMS;

-- Comprehensive HazMat Emergency Response Capability Assessment Program--assistance in preparation for hazardous materials incidents;

-- Emergency Management Exercise Reporting System--assistance in tracking and accessing exercises;

-- National Exercise Program--training, exercises, and collaboration;

-- Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program--exercise activities of varying degrees of complexity and interaction;

-- Lessons Learned Information Sharing--lessons learned from terrorist events and training exercises;

-- U.S. Fire Administration Publications--free publications for emergency responders;

-- Responder Equipment Knowledge Base--online source of information on equipment;

-- State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Directory--online directory of emergency services resources, by state;

-- Homeland Security Information Network--computer-based counterterrorism communications network.

-- DisasterHelp.gov--disaster-related information and services (http://www.DisasterHelp.gov/);

-- National Fire Department Census Data--online directory of fire department data and contact information;

-- Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders--information on hazardous substances;

-- ODP Emergency Responder Guidelines--baseline information on the training necessary to respond to an act of terrorism involving the use of weapons of mass destruction;

-- RapidCom 9/30 and Interoperability Progress--information designed to enhance communications capability in the event of a large emergency;

-- Ready.Gov--citizen preparedness resources to aid Americans in preparing for the unexpected (http://www.ready.gov/);

-- Protected Critical Infrastructure Information--encouragement to private industry to voluntarily share proprietary business information with DHS; and

-- Metropolitan Medical Response System Program--program to enhance emergency preparedness systems.

* A Citizen Corps program provides the following resources:

-- Citizen Corps Councils--develop community action plans, assess possible threats, and identify local resources (http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/);

-- Community Emergency Response Team--educates about disaster preparedness and trains people in basic disaster response skills (http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/cert.shtm);

-- Fire Corps--promotes the use of citizen advocates to enhance the capacity of fire and rescue departments (http://www.firecorps.org/);

-- Neighborhood Watch Program--has incorporated terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission (http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/watch.shtm);

-- Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program--allows medical, public health, and other volunteers to offer their expertise (http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/medical.shtm);

-- Volunteers in Police Service--enhances the ability of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers (http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/vips.shtm);

-- Citizen Corps Affiliate Program--offers resources for public education, outreach, and training and provides volunteer-service opportunities (http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/affiliate.shtm).