U. S. Department of Homeland Security 

 Office for Domestic Preparedness

 Washington, D.C. 20531 

ODP Information Bulletin 

No. 105 March 18, 2004 

TO: All State Administrative Agency Heads 

 

FROM: Tim Beres 

Director, State and Local Operations Directorate 

SUBJECT: Data Review Project 

On March 1-2, 2004, the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) conducted a Data 

Review Stakeholders Conference to solicit key stakeholder feedback on the need to 

review and verify critical homeland security assessment data that was submitted as a 

component of ODP’s State Homeland Security Assessment and Strategy (SHSAS) 

Program. Time constraints of the homeland security assessment process, as well as 

performance issues of the Data Collection Tool (DCT) impacted the ability of states and 

urban areas to verify assessment data prior to submission to ODP. 

ODP Information Bulletin # 96 invited all states to attend ODP’s Data Review 

Stakeholders Conference. Representatives from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, 

Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, 

Tennessee, Washington, and the National Emergency Management Agency attended the 

conference. 

During the conference, ODP personnel reviewed national data findings and identified 

areas that indicate that jurisdictional needs and requirements may not have been reviewed 

in terms of regionalization, mutual aid, state and federal assets, and jurisdiction-specific 

planning factors (based on existing threats and vulnerabilities). Representatives from

South Carolina and Pennsylvania presented their assessment and strategy processes and 

findings. Conference participants also discussed reasonable timelines for the data review 

process, and what technical assistance may be required from ODP for states to 

successfully complete data review. 

Discussions at the Data Review Stakeholders Conference focused on the importance of 

the homeland security assessment data that states and urban areas submit to ODP as part 

of the SHSAS Program. Through the submission of accurate homeland security 
assessment data, states and urban areas have the opportunity to shape the national 

homeland security strategy and influence the national threat profile. 

Key findings from the Data Review Stakeholders Conference included the need for ODP 

to: 

• Provide specific guidance on federal expectations for assessment data 

• Focus only on specific areas for data review (i.e., equipment, training, etc.) 

• Define reasonable timelines for data review at the state level 

• Specify areas of concern with assessment data for each state and urban area. 

As you were unable to attend the Data Review Stakeholders Conference and are a valued 

contributor to the national homeland security effort, your feedback on the upcoming data 

review process would be greatly appreciated. Please review the enclosed draft ODP 

Homeland Security Data Review Project Information Sheet and provide your 

comments and feedback to ODP by March 31, 2004. Your comments can be provided 

to Kate Henderson, Information Management Branch Chief, at 202-514-7888 or 

Kathryn.Henderson@dhs.gov. Thank you.