Usnorthcom: Making a Difference in Natural Disaster Response or Not?

The attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) and the effects produced by a natural disaster (ND) such as Hurricane Katrina demonstrate the need for the United States (U.S.) to change how it protects its citizens from and its response to man-made and natural disasters. In response to these and other security challenges a major reorganization of the Federal government, the most significant of the past fifty years, is underway. The purpose of the reorganization is to provide more coordinated support focused on ensuring Federal departments and agencies assimilate information, intelligence, and limited resources in securing the homeland from external and internal threats as well as support State governments whose disaster response capabilities have been exceeded.