1、Order Code RS22393Updated April 17, 2007State and Urban Area Homeland SecurityPlans and Exercises: Issues for the 110th CongressShawn ReeseAnalyst in American National GovernmentGovernment and Finance DivisionSummaryAs the 110th Congress begins to address state and urban area homeland securitymatter
2、s, it might opt to review activities funded with federal homeland securityassistance to ensure readiness for both terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Twopotential activities that Congress might choose to focus on are the certification of stateand urban area homeland security plans and the condu
3、ct of exercises to test the plans.The Department of Homeland Security requires some plans, but does not certify them,nor does it require regular testing of the plans with exercises. The department, however,has reviewed federal, state, and urban area emergency operations plans and issued areport on i
4、ts findings in June 2006. This CRS report addresses possible policy questionsassociated with homeland security plans and exercises. These issues go beyond thefederal allocation of homeland security assistance to how states and urban areas usefederal funding to prepare for terrorist attacks and natur