DHS Announces $48.6 Million in Driver’s License Security Grants
On Dec. 16, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opened the application period for approximately $48.6 million under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Driver’s License Security Grant Program. These grants support state efforts to prevent terrorism and reduce fraud by improving the reliability and accuracy of identification documents that state governments issue.

DHS Announces $34 Million in FY 2009 Emergency Operations Center Grants
On Dec. 16, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opened the application period for approximately $34 million under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) Grant Program.  These grants are intended to improve state, local and tribal emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure and interoperable Emergency Operations Centers.

GAO looks at DHS grants
This report addresses (1) the changes DHS has made to its risk-based methodology used to allocate grant funding from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2008 and (2) whether the fiscal year 2008 methodology is reasonable. To answer these questions, GAO analyzed DHS documents related to its methodology and grant guidance, interviewed DHS officials about the grant process used in fiscal year 2007 and changes made to the process for fiscal year 2008, and used GAO's risk management framework based on best practices.

FEMA Releases Preliminary Observations from National Exercise TOPOFF 4
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) met with State Homeland Security Advisors, State Emergency Management Directors and participants from the TOP OFFICIALS 4 (TOPOFF 4) exercise held in October 2007 to discuss preliminary exercise observations.  During the meeting, held in Oklahoma City at the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT), officials briefed out and released preliminary exercise observations and lessons learned from TOPOFF 4.

GAO Looks at DHS grants
This testimony examines (1) the process and methods to allocate homeland security grants to state and local governments, (2) how DHS communicates with states and localities in making grant allocation decisions, (3) what challenges affect the expeditious spending of DHS grant funds by states and localities; and (4) the extent that DHS measured program outcomes as part of its efforts to monitor the expenditure of grant dollars.

Report on National Guard Readiness
The U.S. military is not prepared to meet catastrophic threats at home, and it is suffering from an "appalling gap" in forces able to respond to chemical, biological and nuclear strikes on U.S. soil, according to a congressional commission report

NGA Center Survey Reveals Homeland Security Challenges Facing States
States are working more closely and more effectively with federal agencies than ever before to share information that could prevent terrorist attacks, but their relationship with the federal government in a number of other key security areas remains a work in progress, according to a new issue brief from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center).

DHS Secretary Lists 2007 Achievements and 2008 Priorities
A Fact Sheet is also available at the DHS site

National Strategy for Homeland Security
On Oct. 9, the White House released an updated homeland security strategy.

Noblis Innovations Award in Homeland Security.
The State of Washington’s Critical Incident Planning and Mapping System (CIPMS) was selected by Noblis and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government as the winner of the prestigious Noblis Innovations Award in Homeland Security.

OSHA Releases Pandemic Flu Guidance
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has unveiled new safety and health guidance that will help healthcare workers and their employers prepare for a possible influenza pandemic. 

Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border
The report from the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security examines the alarming rise in the level of criminal cartel activity, including drug and human smuggling, along the Texas-Mexico border and its effects on Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies.

"Emergency Evacuation Scorecard 2006"
The American Highway Users Alliance has released a first-of-its-kind study today evaluating the emergency evacuation capacity of the 37 largest US urban areas - with at least 1,000,000 population.

DHS Faces Challenges in Protecting Internet
This new Government Accountability Office report warns that the United States is not prepared for a major disruption to the Internet. The report found that existing legislation and regulations "do not specifically address roles and responsibilities for Internet recovery."

FCC Releases Katrina Report
"Recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks" have been released by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

DHS Releases Review of Nationwide Catastrophic Event Preparedness
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued findings from a national assessment of the country’s catastrophic planning capabilities. The Nationwide Plan Review looked at whether existing emergency operations plans for states and urban areas are sufficient for managing a catastrophic event.

Health Lessons from Katrina
A new Markle Foundation report outlines lessons learned in posting secure, online information about prescription drug histories of Katrina evacuees in the aftermath of last summer's disaster.

A State-By-State Look at Federal Public Health Spending
"Shortchanging America's Health," a new report from Trust for America's Health, finds funding levels for programs intended to protect the health of U.S. citizens vary dramatically among states.