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The White House Blog: Homeland Security

  • President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu

    Posted by Erin Edgerton on October 25, 2009 at 1:48 PM EDT

    In an effort to proactively address the ongoing pandemic, the President signed a National Emergency Declaration on H1N1 that allows healthcare systems to quickly implement disaster plans should they become overwhelmed.
     
    As experts expected, H1N1 flu is moving rapidly throughout the country and the majority of states now have widespread influenza activity.  This declaration gives authority for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive certain regulatory requirements for healthcare facilities in response the ongoing pandemic. Specifically, healthcare facilities will be able to submit waivers to establish alternate care sites, and modified patient triage protocols, patient transfer procedures and other actions that occur when they fully implement disaster operations plans.
     
    Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act [42 USC §1320b–5] healthcare facilities may petition for HHS approval of waivers in response to particular needs within the geographic and temporal limits of the emergency declarations.  Before HHS has the authority to approve such “1135 Waivers” two conditions must be met: first, the Secretary must have declared a Public Health Emergency, and second, the President must have declared a National Emergency either through a Stafford Act Declaration or National Emergencies Act Declaration. 1135 Waivers still require specific requests be submitted to HHS and processed, and some State laws may need to be addressed as well.
     
    The Secretary may tailor authorities granted under Section 1135 waivers to match the specific situational needs, but the requirements that may be waived include those related to Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
     
    Past instances where authority to grant Section 1135 waivers was enabled include:

    • Hurricane Katrina (2005)
    • 56th Presidential Inauguration (2009)
    • Hurricanes Ike and Gustav (2008)
    • North Dakota flooding (2009)

     Learn more about this National Emergency Declaration and get information on H1N1 and seasonal flu at Flu.gov.

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  • Asistencia en caso de desastres ahora disponible en español

    Posted by Luis Miranda on October 20, 2009 at 9:59 AM EDT

    No importa qué idioma hable, su familia debe aprender a estar preparada antes y después de un desastre.

    La Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por su sigla en inglés) ha lanzado un nuevo sitio web en español donde podrá encontrar la información que necesita y asistencia para después de un desastre o emergencia. En DisasterAssistance.gov usted podrá llenar un cuestionario que le ayudará a conocer a que programas de ayuda usted puede ser elegible. Podrá crear una cuenta y solicitar asistencia por internet así como verificar el estado de su solicitud.

    También encontrará guías sobre cómo estar preparado para los desastres y emergencias, información local y recursos comunitarios, como también aprender que deben hacer los ciudadanos estadounidenses que sean afectados por desastres en el extranjero.

    Visite DisasterAssistance.gov hoy e infórmese. Comparta esta información con familiares, amigos y compañeros de trabajo. Estar preparado es responsabilidad de todos. 

     
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    Disasters Assistance now available in Spanish

    No matter what language you speak, your family needs to know how to prepare for a disaster, and how to respond one.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched a new website in Spanish that will help you get the information you need and assistance after a disaster or emergency. On DisasterAssistance.gov you can answer a quiz that will help you find out what programs you could be eligible for. You can create an account and request assistance online or verify the status of your request.

    Also, you'll find guidelines about how to be prepared for a disaster or emergency, local information and community resources and learn what an American citizen should do if affected by a disaster in a foreign country.

    Visit DisasterAssistance.gov today and get informed. Share this information with your family, friends and coworkers. Being prepared is a responsibility we all share.

     

     

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  • "Every Morning I Look to You for the Latest Intelligence"

    Posted by Jesse Lee on October 6, 2009 at 2:50 PM EDT

    This morning the President paid a visit to the National Counterterrorism Center in DC, meeting with leadership before sending a simple but profound message to the staff:
    But I wanted to come here today and take a few minutes just to deliver a simple message -- and I delivered it inside, and that is the message of thanks -- to say thank you from me, who use your product each and every day to make some very tough decisions, and to thank you on behalf of the American people, who may not even know that you're here but are relying on you each and every day to make sure that their kids get home safely and that when they commute to work it's going to be okay.  To think about the profound impact that all of you are having on the day-to-day life of this nation I think is extraordinary.  Your professionalism is essential to protecting this country.
    Now, we recently observed the eighth anniversary of that terrible day when terrorists brought so much death and destruction to our shores.  And once more we remembered all the lives that were lost.  And once more we redoubled our resolve against the extremists who continue to plot against the United States and our allies.
    So we need you more than ever.  Our troops and our intelligence officers in the field, our diplomats overseas, our law enforcement here at home, they all depend on you -- your analysis, your insights, your ability to work together, across divisions and disciplines, turning information into intelligence and sharing it quickly, in real time, with those who need it.
    As I said before, I am one of those consumers of your work product here at NCTC.  Every morning I look to you for the latest intelligence.  In fact, I think so highly of NCTC that I picked the guy who put NCTC together -- John Brennan -- as my chief adviser for counterterrorism and homeland security.  And by the way, John Brennan is here and doing an outstanding job each and every day.  He's also, by the way, I think, responsible for getting this spiffy building up and running.
    Now, again, a lot of you are working in some obscurity right now.  Few Americans know about the work that you do, and this is how it should be.  Your assignments require it, and obviously you didn't go into this line of work for the fame and glory, or the glare of the spotlight.  You're in this to serve and protect.
    But today, I want every American to know about the difference you've made -- especially in recent months and days.  Because of you, and all the organizations you represent, we're making real progress in our core mission:  to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and other extremist networks around the world.
    We must never lose sight of that goal.  That's the principal threat to the American people.  That is the threat that led to the creation of this Center.  And that must be the focus of our efforts to defend the homeland and our allies, and defeat extremists abroad.
    President Barack Obama meets with the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) leadership(President Barack Obama meets with the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) leadership and analysts during his visit to the NCTC in McLean, Virginia, October 6, 2009.  Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

    President Barack Obama speaks to the staff during his visit to the National Counterterrorism Center(President Barack Obama speaks to the staff during his visit to the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Virginia, October 6, 2009.  With the President are Michael Leiter, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, left,  and Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence, right.  Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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  • National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

    Posted by John Brennan on October 1, 2009 at 3:20 PM EDT

    Today, per a Presidential Proclamation and a Senate Resolution, marks the start of the sixth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As stated in the President’s Cyberspace Policy Review, cybersecurity is a national priority and is vital to our economy and the security of our nation. The financial industry, our government networks, and your home computers are under continual attack from a variety of malicious actors, including domestic hackers, international organized crime rings, and foreign intelligence agencies. They are stealing your identities and financial information, sensitive government data, and proprietary industry information. As President Obama stated in his May 29th speech, "America's economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity."
    However, there is much that we can do to reduce our vulnerability and improve our resilience to cyber attacks, and we call on all Americans this month to recognize their role in improving the nation’s cybersecurity. One of the themes for this year’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. This refers to the fact that government, industry, and the individual computer user must all play a role in securing our information networks and data.  Public-private partnerships are critical to these efforts, and one example of this partnership is the National Cybersecurity Alliance. This joint industry and government organization provides a variety of information on National Cybersecurity Awareness Month activities. Further, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) provides information on cybersecurity efforts happening within your state.
    During the month of October, I will be posting additional information on this blog regarding a variety of cybersecurity topics, including Cyber Threat, Cybersecurity Tips for the Home User, and Cybersecurity Careers.
    Please check back here weekly for additional cybersecurity information.
    John Brennan is the Deputy National Security Advisor and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

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  • Our Thoughts and Prayers with the People of American Samoa

    Posted by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on October 1, 2009 at 12:31 PM EDT


    On Tuesday, the territory of American Samoa was struck by a major tsunami, causing widespread destruction in its coastal communities.
    FEMA began responding immediately.  Within hours, President Obama had granted a Major Disaster Declaration for American Samoa, and we began the delivery of resources to support Governor Tulafono’s priority of lifesaving response efforts.
    Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in the impacted region. Unfortunately disasters, like the tsunami, often strike with little or no warning. But we are working hard, both before events like this and now during this important response, to ensure that our team is ready.
    Within an hour of the notification that American Samoa may have been hit by a tsunami, FEMA was working closely with its federal and regional partners, collecting information and executing our response plan.
    That meant immediately standing up our National Response Coordination Center in our Washington, DC headquarters, as well as our Regional Response Coordination Center in Region IX.  FEMA’s Region IX, based out of California, oversees all emergency responses for American Samoa and is the lead for our current response efforts. That order led to a rapid staffing up of these centers both by FEMA employees, as well as our close partners in DHS, the Coast Guard, the American Red Cross, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services, to name a few.
    When a disaster strikes one of our territories in the Pacific, our number one priority is airlifting in lifesaving and life sustaining materials to respond to the needs of the survivors.  Because of the vast distances between islands in the Pacific, we have prepositioned supplies already in Hawaii constantly on stand by for emergencies like this—and within hours of the President’s disaster declaration we began mobilizing those resources. Working with the Coast Guard, we deployed initial response teams and began moving supplies like food, water, sheltering materials, and medical supplies.
    As I write this, additional military flights are in the air, with more supplies on the way to American Samoa to meet the needs that Governor Tulafono has prioritized.
    To be clear, we are still in the response phase of this disaster, but thanks to the quick leadership of the President, Secretary Napolitano, Governor Tulafono and our federal partners, supplies and response teams are on the ground, with more on the way.
    For those of you who want to know how you can help the people of American Samoa today, I encourage to visit our partners, like the American Red Cross, and give what you can to aid in this recovery.
    Emergency response is a team effort – but FEMA is only one part of that team. In the last 48 hours, we’ve seen that team at work. But as images and reports from the ground continue to come in, it is clear that the recovery for the people of American Samoa will be a long process, and unfortunately there are many in American Samoa who still need our help. We are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers, and we will continue to do all we can on behalf of the President, Secretary Napolitano and the Governor to provide a speedy response and aid in American Samoa’s ultimate recovery.
    Craig Fugate is Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

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  • What's Our Plan?

    Posted by Graves Spindler on September 29, 2009 at 11:22 AM EDT

    Cross-posted from the DHS blog.
    We've harped on it for 29 days - September is National Preparedness Month. We've directed you to ready.gov, provided tips on how to be prepared and stay informed, and asked you more than once to cough into your sleeve.
    No one likes to spend that much time thinking about what could happen – be it a natural disaster or otherwise – but the steps you take to prepare for the unthinkable can make the difference for your place of business, your school, and especially your home. And, it’s the American way: being ready and resilient has helped our nation surmount its biggest challenges for two centuries
    So as National Preparedness Month comes to a close, the Secretary has one more request of you: ask a question. Stand up at school, or at work, or at home, and ask, "What's our plan?"
    The Secretary will deliver a speech at The American Red Cross National Headquarters this afternoon at 2:15 PM EDT on preparedness, and wants to make one final pitch to the American public during the month of September. Bring it up the next time you attend a meeting at your child's high school, or at church, or around the dinner table. This is a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play in building a culture where these questions, and this dialogue, are commonplace.
    Watch the speech LIVE at http://www.dhs.gov/ starting at 2:15 PM EDT.
    Then visit ready.gov to learn more.
    Graves Spindler works for the Department of Homeland Security
     

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  • Vice President Biden Pledges Support for Georgia

    Posted by Jesse Lee on September 25, 2009 at 5:40 PM EDT

    With the President having just declared a major disaster in the State of Georgia as a result of severe storms and flooding, Vice President Joe Biden visited the state today to comfort local residents and survey affected areas.
    "Communities like yours may have lost a lot of the physical structure, but it looks to me you've kept a lot of the grit and determination," the Vice President said at a news conference in Marietta, Ga., an Atlanta suburb. The Vice President also promised relief to the area: "We're going to have people come see you," he said. "This is not going to happen overnight. This is not going to happen tomorrow, but it's going to happen."
    (Vice President Joe Biden adjusts his microphone on board an US Coast Guard Helicopter before taking off to survey flood damage in Marietta, Georgia. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
    (Vice President Joe Biden tours a shelter at the Cobb County Civic Center and talks to families who are living in the shelter due to flooding, in Marietta, Georgia. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
    (Vice President Joe Biden gives a statement on flood recovery outside a temporary shelter at the Cobb County Civic Center, in Marietta, Georgia. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
     

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  • One Stop Shop

    Posted by Graves Spindler on September 22, 2009 at 12:13 PM EDT

    Cross-posted from the DHS blog.
    Today, Secretary Napolitano, United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Chief Performance Officer Jeff Zients will be unveiling a new and improved USCIS website at USCIS’ headquarters.
    Ninety days ago, President Obama called for new USCIS technology to improve transparency and efficiency in the immigration system. USCIS met the President’s directive by developing a re-designed and enhanced website, available in English and Spanish, to help customers navigate the immigration system more effectively. Essentially, the new USCIS website will be a "one-stop shop" for immigration information.
    (The new "My Case Status" function above allows customers to sign in with a receipt number, and check the status of their application. They will also be able to sign up for email and text alerts for the first time, to let them know what step of the process their application is in.)
    For example, the new USCIS.gov website includes a "Where to Start" tool that helps customers easily navigate the new site, a "My Case Status" tool that allows customers to check the status of their application via email and text message alerts, and a "National Dashboard" that provides national data on volumes and trends in the immigration system. We are also proud to introduce a Spanish language version of our website, which is available at: www.uscis.gov/espanol.
    Take a minute to check out the new site today and spread the word!
    Graves Spindler works for the Department of Homeland Security
     --------------------------------------
    Su punto de partida
    Versión traducida del blog de DHS.
    Hoy, la Secretaria del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional Janet Napolitano, el Director del Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos(USCIS) Alejandro Mayorkas y el Oficial Principal de Rendimiento de la Casa Blanca Jeff Zients presentaron el nuevo y rediseñado sitio web de USCIS en las oficinas principales de USCIS.
    Hace noventa días, el Presidente Obama hizo un llamado al uso de nuevas tecnologías en USCIS para mejorar la transparencia y eficiencia en el sistema de inmigración. USCIS cumplió con la directriz del Presidente al rediseñar y mejorar su sitio web, disponible en inglés y español, para ayudar los usuarios a navegar a través del sistema de inmigración de manera más eficaz. Esencialmente, el nuevo sitio de USCIS será "su punto de partida" de información sobre inmigración.
    (La herraminta "El estatus de mi caso" mostrada arriba le permite al usuario registrarse utilizando el número de recibo de su caso y revisar el estatus de su solictud. También podrá registrarse para recibir alertas por correo electrónico y mensajes de texto que le avisará en que paso del proceso se encuentra su solictud. )
    Por ejemplo, el nuevo sitio USCIS.gov, provee la herramienta "Dónde empezar" la cual ayudará al usuario a navegar el sitio de manera más facil, la herramienta "El estatus de mi caso" le permitirá al usuario recibir información sobre el estatus de su solicitud a través de su correo electrónico o mensajes de texto y el "tablero de información" le brindará información nacional sobre volumen y tendencias en el sistema de inmigración. Nos sentimos orgullosos de presentarles también la versión en español del sitio web disponible en www.uscis.gov/espanol.
    ¡Tome un minuto para que revise el nuevo sitio y dígale a todos!
    Graves Spindler trabaja para el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional.

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  • Building a Ready and Resilient Nation

    Posted by Secretary Janet Napolitano on September 1, 2009 at 10:46 AM EDT

    Today marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month, an opportunity for our nation’s families and communities to discuss their plans if they were faced with an emergency. Protecting the United States from threats like terrorism, natural disasters, and infectious diseases is a shared responsibility and everyone has an important role to play.

    This effort starts in our own communities. By talking to your neighbors, friends and family about citizen preparedness – during September and beyond – we can build a culture where shared responsibility for preventing and responding to emergencies is every bit as common as planning for retirement or keeping your car and home in good repair.

    For more information about emergency planning, visit www.ready.gov or the Spanish-language site, www.listo.gov.

    Individuals can also help by learning a skill like CPR , or volunteering in their community through a local Citizen Corps council.

    We look forward to sharing additional ideas and information here, and at DHS.gov throughout the month of September to help all Americans become better prepared for – and more resilient to – emergencies of all kinds.

    Janet Napolitano is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

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  • Smart, Tough, and Effective Security at our Border

    Posted by Secretary Janet Napolitano on August 11, 2009 at 9:29 AM EDT

    I just returned from Guadalajara, Mexico, where President Obama and I met with our Mexican counterparts to continue our collaboration and cooperation on a range of border issues. Today, I'm at the University of Texas at El Paso for their sixth annual Border Security Conference.
    Later this morning, I will deliver remarks outlining the cohesive strategy that we've brought to our border security and immigration enforcement efforts. As someone who has been working on these issues for many years, it's clear to me that as our shared border challenges evolve, our approach must evolve as well. That is exactly what we are doing.
    In the six months since President Obama's inauguration, we've instituted polices that reflect the reality that border security, enforcement of immigration laws in the interior of the country, and counter-narcotics enforcement are inextricably linked. In my remarks today I will discuss a new strategy, one that relies on simultaneously addressing all these challenges.
    It's an approach that uses the laws we have in ways that are smart, tough, and effective. The UTEP speech will be streamed live at 1:15 PM EDT this afternoon and I invite you to tune in here.
    Janet Napolitano is the Secretary of Homeland Security.
     

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