    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [December 17, 2003]
    [Pages 1745-1750]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Homeland Security Presidential Directive/ HSPD-8--National Preparedness
    December 17, 2003

    Subject: National Preparedness

    Purpose

        (1) This directive establishes policies to strengthen the
    preparedness of the United States to prevent and respond to threatened
    or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other
    emergencies by requiring a national domestic all-hazards preparedness
    goal, establishing mechanisms for improved delivery of Federal
    preparedness assistance to State and local governments, and outlining
    actions to strengthen preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, and
    local entities.

    Definitions

        (2) For the purposes of this directive:
           (a)   The term ``all-hazards preparedness'' refers to
                preparedness for domestic terrorist attacks, major
                disasters, and other emergencies.
           (b)   The term ``Federal departments and agencies'' means those
                executive departments enumerated in 5 U.S.C. 101, and the
                Department of Homeland Security; independent establishments
                as defined by 5 U.S.C. 104(1); Government corporations as
                defined by 5 U.S.C. 103(1); and the United States Postal
                Service.
           (c)   The term ``Federal preparedness assistance'' means Federal
                department and agency grants, cooperative agreements, loans,
                loan guarantees, training, and/or technical assistance
                provided to State and local governments and the private
                sector to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from
                terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.
                Unless noted otherwise, the term ``assistance'' will refer
                to Federal assistance programs.
           (d)   The term ``first responder'' refers to those individuals
                who in the early

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                stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and
                preservation of life, property, evidence, and the
                environment, including emergency response providers as
                defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
                U.S.C. 101), as well as emergency management, public health,
                clinical care, public works, and other skilled support
                personnel (such as equipment operators) that provide
                immediate support services during prevention, response, and
                recovery operations.
           (e)   The terms ``major disaster'' and ``emergency'' have the
                meanings given in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
                5122).
           (f)   The term ``major events'' refers to domestic terrorist
                attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.
           (g)   The term ``national homeland security preparedness-related
                exercises'' refers to homeland security-related exercises
                that train and test national decision makers and utilize
                resources of multiple Federal departments and agencies. Such
                exercises may involve State and local first responders when
                appropriate. Such exercises do not include those exercises
                conducted solely within a single Federal department or
                agency.
           (h)   The term ``preparedness'' refers to the existence of plans,
                procedures, policies, training, and equipment necessary at
                the Federal, State, and local level to maximize the ability
                to prevent, respond to, and recover from major events. The
                term ``readiness'' is used interchangeably with
                preparedness.
           (i)   The term ``prevention'' refers to activities undertaken by
                the first responder community during the early stages of an
                incident to reduce the likelihood or consequences of
                threatened or actual terrorist attacks. More general and
                broader efforts to deter, disrupt, or thwart terrorism are
                not addressed in this directive.
           (j)   The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland
                Security.
           (k)   The terms ``State,'' and ``local government,'' when used in
                a geographical sense, have the same meanings given to those
                terms in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
                U.S.C. 101).

    Relationship to HSPD-5

        (3) This directive is a companion to HSPD-5, which identifies steps
    for improved coordination in response to incidents. This directive
    describes the way Federal departments and agencies will prepare for such
    a response, including prevention activities during the early stages of a
    terrorism incident.

    Development of a National Preparedness Goal

        (4) The Secretary is the principal Federal official for coordinating
    the implementation of all-hazards preparedness in the United States. In
    cooperation with other Federal departments and agencies, the Secretary
    coordinates the preparedness of Federal response assets, and the support
    for, and assessment of, the preparedness of State and local first
    responders.
        (5) To help ensure the preparedness of the Nation to prevent,
    respond to, and recover from threatened and actual domestic terrorist
    attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, the Secretary, in
    coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and
    agencies and in consultation with State and local governments, shall
    develop a national domestic all-hazards preparedness goal. Federal
    departments and agencies will work to achieve this goal by:
           (a)   providing for effective, efficient, and timely delivery of
                Federal preparedness assistance to State and local
                governments; and

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           (b)   supporting efforts to ensure first responders are prepared
                to respond to major events, especially prevention of and
                response to threatened terrorist attacks.
        (6) The national preparedness goal will establish measurable
    readiness priorities and targets that appropriately balance the
    potential threat and magnitude of terrorist attacks, major disasters,
    and other emergencies with the resources required to prevent, respond
    to, and recover from them. It will also include readiness metrics and
    elements that support the national preparedness goal including standards
    for preparedness assessments and strategies, and a system for assessing
    the Nation's overall preparedness to respond to major events, especially
    those involving acts of terrorism.
        (7) The Secretary will submit the national preparedness goal to me
    through the Homeland Security Council (HSC) for review and approval
    prior to, or concurrently with, the Department of Homeland Security's
    Fiscal Year 2006 budget submission to the Office of Management and
    Budget.

    Federal Preparedness Assistance

        (8) The Secretary, in coordination with the Attorney General, the
    Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the heads of other
    Federal departments and agencies that provide assistance for first
    responder preparedness, will establish a single point of access to
    Federal preparedness assistance program information within 60 days of
    the issuance of this directive. The Secretary will submit to me through
    the HSC recommendations of specific Federal department and agency
    programs to be part of the coordinated approach. All Federal departments
    and agencies will cooperate with this effort. Agencies will continue to
    issue financial assistance awards consistent with applicable laws and
    regulations and will ensure that program announcements, solicitations,
    application instructions, and other guidance documents are consistent
    with other Federal preparedness programs to the extent possible. Full
    implementation of a closely coordinated interagency grant process will
    be completed by September 30, 2005.
        (9) To the extent permitted by law, the primary mechanism for
    delivery of Federal preparedness assistance will be awards to the
    States. Awards will be delivered in a form that allows the recipients to
    apply the assistance to the highest priority preparedness requirements
    at the appropriate level of government. To the extent permitted by law,
    Federal preparedness assistance will be predicated on adoption of
    Statewide comprehensive all-hazards preparedness strategies. The
    strategies should be consistent with the national preparedness goal,
    should assess the most effective ways to enhance preparedness, should
    address areas facing higher risk, especially to terrorism, and should
    also address local government concerns and Citizen Corps efforts. The
    Secretary, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal
    departments and agencies, will review and approve strategies submitted
    by the States. To the extent permitted by law, adoption of approved
    Statewide strategies will be a requirement for receiving Federal
    preparedness assistance at all levels of government by September 30,
    2005.
        (10) In making allocations of Federal preparedness assistance to the
    States, the Secretary, the Attorney General, the Secretary of HHS, the
    Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of
    Veterans Affairs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
    Agency, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that
    provide assistance for first responder preparedness will base those
    allocations on assessments of population concentrations, critical
    infrastructures, and other significant risk factors, particularly
    terrorism threats, to the extent permitted by law.

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        (11) Federal preparedness assistance will support State and local
    entities' efforts including planning, training, exercises,
    interoperability, and equipment acquisition for major events as well as
    capacity building for prevention activities such as information
    gathering, detection, deterrence, and collaboration related to terrorist
    attacks. Such assistance is not primarily intended to support existing
    capacity to address normal local first responder operations, but to
    build capacity to address major events, especially terrorism.
        (12) The Attorney General, the Secretary of HHS, the Secretary of
    Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Veterans
    Affairs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and
    the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that provide
    assistance for first responder preparedness shall coordinate with the
    Secretary to ensure that such assistance supports and is consistent with
    the national preparedness goal.
        (13) Federal departments and agencies will develop appropriate
    mechanisms to ensure rapid obligation and disbursement of funds from
    their programs to the States, from States to the local community level,
    and from local entities to the end users to derive maximum benefit from
    the assistance provided. Federal departments and agencies will report
    annually to the Secretary on the obligation, expenditure status, and the
    use of funds associated with Federal preparedness assistance programs.

    Equipment

        (14) The Secretary, in coordination with State and local officials,
    first responder organizations, the private sector and other Federal
    civilian departments and agencies, shall establish and implement
    streamlined procedures for the ongoing development and adoption of
    appropriate first responder equipment standards that support nationwide
    interoperability and other capabilities consistent with the national
    preparedness goal, including the safety and health of first responders.
        (15) To the extent permitted by law, equipment purchased through
    Federal preparedness assistance for first responders shall conform to
    equipment standards in place at time of purchase. Other Federal
    departments and agencies that support the purchase of first responder
    equipment will coordinate their programs with the Department of Homeland
    Security and conform to the same standards.
        (16) The Secretary, in coordination with other appropriate Federal
    departments and agencies and in consultation with State and local
    governments, will develop plans to identify and address national first
    responder equipment research and development needs based upon
    assessments of current and future threats. Other Federal departments and
    agencies that support preparedness research and development activities
    shall coordinate their efforts with the Department of Homeland Security
    and ensure they support the national preparedness goal.

    Training and Exercises

        (17) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of HHS, the
    Attorney General, and other appropriate Federal departments and agencies
    and in consultation with State and local governments, shall establish
    and maintain a comprehensive training program to meet the national
    preparedness goal. The program will identify standards and maximize the
    effectiveness of existing Federal programs and financial assistance and
    include training for the Nation's first responders, officials, and
    others with major event preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery
    roles. Federal departments and agencies shall include private
    organizations in the accreditation and delivery of preparedness training
    as appropriate and to the extent permitted by law.
        (18) The Secretary, in coordination with other appropriate Federal
    departments and agencies, shall establish a national program

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    and a multi-year planning system to conduct homeland security
    preparedness-related exercises that reinforces identified training
    standards, provides for evaluation of readiness, and supports the
    national preparedness goal. The establishment and maintenance of the
    program will be conducted in maximum collaboration with State and local
    governments and appropriate private sector entities. All Federal
    departments and agencies that conduct national homeland security
    preparedness-related exercises shall participate in a collaborative,
    interagency process to designate such exercises on a consensus basis and
    create a master exercise calendar. The Secretary will ensure that
    exercises included in the calendar support the national preparedness
    goal. At the time of designation, Federal departments and agencies will
    identify their level of participation in national homeland security
    preparedness-related exercises. The Secretary will develop a multi-year
    national homeland security preparedness-related exercise plan and submit
    the plan to me through the HSC for review and approval.
        (19) The Secretary shall develop and maintain a system to collect,
    analyze, and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, and
    information from exercises, training events, research, and other
    sources, including actual incidents, and establish procedures to improve
    national preparedness to prevent, respond to, and recover from major
    events. The Secretary, in coordination with other Federal departments
    and agencies and State and local governments, will identify relevant
    classes of homeland-security related information and appropriate means
    of transmission for the information to be included in the system.
    Federal departments and agencies are directed, and State and local
    governments are requested, to provide this information to the Secretary
    to the extent permitted by law.

    Federal Department and Agency Preparedness

        (20) The head of each Federal department or agency shall undertake
    actions to support the national preparedness goal, including adoption of
    quantifiable performance measurements in the areas of training,
    planning, equipment, and exercises for Federal incident management and
    asset preparedness, to the extent permitted by law. Specialized Federal
    assets such as teams, stockpiles, and caches shall be maintained at
    levels consistent with the national preparedness goal and be available
    for response activities as set forth in the National Response Plan,
    other appropriate operational documents, and applicable authorities or
    guidance. Relevant Federal regulatory requirements should be consistent
    with the national preparedness goal. Nothing in this directive shall
    limit the authority of the Secretary of Defense with regard to the
    command and control, training, planning, equipment, exercises, or
    employment of Department of Defense forces, or the allocation of
    Department of Defense resources.
        (21) The Secretary, in coordination with other appropriate Federal
    civilian departments and agencies, shall develop and maintain a Federal
    response capability inventory that includes the performance parameters
    of the capability, the timeframe within which the capability can be
    brought to bear on an incident, and the readiness of such capability to
    respond to domestic incidents. The Department of Defense will provide to
    the Secretary information describing the organizations and functions
    within the Department of Defense that may be utilized to provide support
    to civil authorities during a domestic crisis.

    Citizen Participation

        (22) The Secretary shall work with other appropriate Federal
    departments and agencies as well as State and local governments and the
    private sector to encourage active citizen participation and involvement
    in

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    preparedness efforts. The Secretary shall periodically review and
    identify the best community practices for integrating private citizen
    capabilities into local preparedness efforts.

    Public Communication

        (23) The Secretary, in consultation with other Federal departments
    and agencies, State and local governments, and non-governmental
    organizations, shall develop a comprehensive plan to provide accurate
    and timely preparedness information to public citizens, first
    responders, units of government, the private sector, and other
    interested parties and mechanisms for coordination at all levels of
    government.

    Assessment and Evaluation

        (24) The Secretary shall provide to me through the Assistant to the
    President for Homeland Security an annual status report of the Nation's
    level of preparedness, including State capabilities, the readiness of
    Federal civil response assets, the utilization of mutual aid, and an
    assessment of how the Federal first responder preparedness assistance
    programs support the national preparedness goal. The first report will
    be provided within 1 year of establishment of the national preparedness
    goal.
        (25) Nothing in this directive alters, or impedes the ability to
    carry out, the authorities of the Federal departments and agencies to
    perform their responsibilities under law and consistent with applicable
    legal authorities and presidential guidance.
        (26) Actions pertaining to the funding and administration of
    financial assistance and all other activities, efforts, and policies in
    this directive shall be executed in accordance with law. To the extent
    permitted by law, these policies will be established and carried out in
    consultation with State and local governments.
        (27) This directive is intended only to improve the internal
    management of the executive branch of the Federal Government, and it is
    not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive
    or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the United
    States, its departments, agencies, or other entities, its officers or
    employees, or any other person.

                                                              George W. Bush