Protecting the Homeland

Before Sept. 11, 2001, when I thought about things in life that were worth protecting, I thought first about my grandchildren, my children, family, friends and citizens, then my home and other valuable resources.
I thought about the advances of technology and the easy access to information. I worried about identify theft and the intrusion of others in my personal space.
I also worried about tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, and the year before worried about Y2K. I prayed and had concerns about citizens in other countries because of the constant fighting, wars and threat of wars. I did not worry about being attacked on our homeland. Like most citizens, I felt safe. I took homeland security for granted.
On Sept. 11, 2001, my definition of homeland security changed forever when the enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country on our homeland. I added to my list of valuables the freedom and security I enjoy as an American.
Until 9/11, none of our federal, state, county or city governments considered homeland security as their primary mission; now it is our collective mission.
The National Strategy for Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 served to mobilize and organize our nation to secure the homeland from terrorist attacks. This complex mission requires a focused effort from our entire society. We must use every available resource to defend our freedom, our homes and this nation.
The National Strategy has been put in place to identify our goals, but every state, county, city and individual must do their part. We must expand our mission from response to improving and strengthening our security for the long term.
Terrorist and natural disasters do not respect geographic, political or legal jurisdictional lines, so we must come together to coordinate and develop regional plans to combine resources to respond to potential emergencies and natural disasters. The concept of borderless approach to emergencies and natural disasters will assist jurisdictions of all sizes to have multiple capabilities that were never imagined or capable of being funded.
Not only did Sept. 11, 2001, mobilize the federal government, but it also mobilized local government. We realized how important it is for us to work not only with the federal government, but to work with each other, cities and counties leveraging our resources to help protect our homeland.
One of the organizations already established in regional cooperation was the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). Under their jurisdiction the Emergency Preparedness Department was created with the mission to build a foundation for lasting partnerships and proactive emergency preparedness in North Central Texas through advocacy, information sharing and collaboration. Through this department, existing efforts and resources are leveraged through partnerships with state and federal agencies to strengthen regional preparedness.
Not only has terrorism stretched our resources, but the recent hurricanes, tornados, floods, and other emergencies have further stretched our resources so that we must combine our efforts to protect our citizens effectively and efficiently in all aspects of emergencies now and in the future.
County governments have now more than ever become a resource to municipalities within their boundaries. Counties have the capability to bring all of their municipalities together to provide countywide planning. This type of planning not only will assist a county in response within its boundaries, but will assist in regional response.
Plans are coordinated through the Emergency Preparedness Planning Council created to provide guidance and recommendations on regional policies.
Homeland security today requires maximizing our security by working together regionally to meet the common goal. We must be able to identify and assess our threats and realize that sometimes our enemies may live among us. We must safeguard our citizens and their freedoms by using state-of-the-art technology that can analyze and deter terrorist attacks.
Although Sept. 11, 2001, changed my definition of homeland security, it did not change the fact that I live in the greatest country ever. I am proud of the freedom I have, freedom that has been won for us by men and women who have fought and continue to fight so that we may remain free in a nation that knows the sacrifices that must be made to maintain that freedom.
I am proud to be an American and possess the godly heritage that has been passed down generation after generation. I am proud to live in a nation that has always risen to meet every challenge regardless of the location. I am proud to live in a godly nation that gives over and over to other nations physically and financially. Yes, our definition of homeland security has changed, but we still stand as one nation under God now and forever.
May God Bless our troops and God Bless America!
By Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell, First Vice President, North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association