[Mar 06 2003]
Homeland Security Unveils Strategy to Protect Physical Infrastructure
In February 2003, the Department of Homeland Security unveiled a national strategy for protecting the vast network of roads, industrial plants, and energy systems that make up the country's critical infrastructure from possible terrorist attack.

"[The strategy] provides a unifying structure, defines rules and responsibilities, and identifies major initiatives that will drive our near-term protection priorities," said President Bush in a forward to the document.

The first-of-its-kind document outlines what government and the private sector should do to safeguard the country's 5,800 hospitals, 2 million miles of pipeline and 80,000 dams, among other vital assets. It calls on business sectors to form centers for sharing information on threats and promises federal guidance to help state and local governments assess the vulnerability of key infrastructure components. Where possible, the strategy pledges to use public-private partnerships, and not regulation, to tighten security at privately owned parts of the infrastructure.

Related Files
* Physical_Strategy.pdf
* physprotectwhitehouse.pdf

Related Links
* Homeland Security SIA