Homeland security operations coordination, conducted during steady-state periods and during emergencies and disasters throughout the United States, requires a whole community response concept. It occurs at all levels—national, regional, state, local, and incident.
This coordination consists of actions and activities that enable decision makers to determine appropriate courses of action to provide oversight for complex homeland security operations and achieve unity of effort and effective outcomes. Conducting these operations and organizing for all-hazard emergencies rely on comprehensive yet flexible national planning and preparedness frameworks that integrate the full range of homeland security capabilities from government, industry, and the public.
The success of regional coordination and emergency management initiatives hinges on effective planning and operations that integrate information, communications, coordination, and knowledge. A partnership among all stakeholders within a particular region is vital to emergency preparedness and response because it promotes resilience and enables individuals and communities to recover more rapidly from disasters. All stakeholders should be included—federal, state, and local government agencies; emergency responders; nongovernmental organizations; the private sector; and individuals.
