About Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Making our nation, state, and citizens safe are priorities of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD). As the result of a partnership between citizens, volunteer and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and state, local and federal governments, Iowa is more secure and better prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters, natural or human-made.
The Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division has been working to make Iowa more prepared for disasters since it began as the State Civil Defense Agency in 1965. The focus of emergency management and the hazards faced by Iowans may have changed in some ways since that time, but what hasn't changed is our commitment to making our state more prepared for eay emergency or disaster.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, homeland security responsibilities for the state of Iowa were integrated into the duties and responsibilities of the Emergency Management Division. The Emergency Management Division assumed the responsibilities for developing and coordinating the implementation of a comprehensive state strategy to secure the Iowa from terrorist threats or attacks. In 2003, the Division was renamed the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, to reflect the homeland security and emergency management missions of the agency.
While this broadened our mission, our underlying priority of ensuring Iowa is prepared and ready to respond to any disaster drives all we do. Because Iowa is more likely to face floods, tornadoes, and hazardous materials spils than a terrorist attack, many of the steps taken to prepare for emergencies apply to both terrorism and other disasters.