U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Outlines Risk-Based Approach

At a policy forum on March 16, 2005, Michael Chertoff, homeland security secretary, spoke on the future direction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C. Among his many comments, Chertoff said, “We must calibrate an approach to security that incorporates prevention and protection into our lives in a way that respects our liberty and our privacy, and fosters our prosperity. A nation as vital and thriving as ours cannot become hermetically sealed. Even less can we afford to be overwhelmed by fear and paralyzed by the existence of threats.”“That’s why we need to adopt a risk-based approach to both our operations and our philosophy. Risk management is fundamental to managing the threat, while retaining our quality of life and living in freedom. Risk management must guide our decision-making as we examine how we can best organize to prevent, respond, and recover from an attack,” Chertoff commented. “For that reason, the Department of Homeland Security is working with state-, local-, and private-sector partners on a National Preparedness Plan to target resources where the risk is greatest.”To read more of Chertoff’s remarks, visit The Infrastructure Security Partnership website (www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4392).