This essay takes the reader to the front porch of a roadside inn for conversations about what homeland security means to the people who live within the redwood forests of Humboldt County, California.

By Judith Boyd

Today, the homeland security official is focused squarely on the near-term external threats facing America—the natural and terrorism-induced hazards that define our discipline’s present-day rule-set.

By Patrick J. Massey

The use of sensors in the detection of terrorists, weapons, or dangerous materials transported along the roadways of the United States could contribute to the protection of urban population centers from attack.

By Robert L. Barnett, D. Sean Bovey, Robert J. Atwell, and Lowell Bruce Anderson

The analysis of domestic incidents of terrorism has revealed many gaps in our nation’s capability to effectively manage the multi-jurisdictional response.

By Mark Landahl

The use of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel as information collectors to support Terrorism Early Warning Groups (TEWGs) and other intelligence fusion centers is advocated by academic papers, professional journals, and best-practice documents.

By Michael Petrie

Most American communities will never host a large-scale event, but the lessons learned from providing security at major events, such as the Olympics, can be scaled to other events. These lessons may also help guide homeland security preparedness, particularly in states, regions, and cities.

By Christopher Bellavita

U.S. residents are very concerned about terrorist attacks and they are willing to commit substantial sums to prevent further terrorist incidents, according to the results of a large national survey of the public’s thoughts about terrorism.

By Koel Ghosh, Dennis Degeneffe, Jean Kinsey, and Thomas Stinson