Risk Management

What is Risk Management?

Homeland security risk management refers to the process of identifying and analyzing risk and acting to reduce or, if possible, eliminate it at an acceptable cost. It is about understanding homeland security risk in terms of threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences, and then using the results of this analysis to inform decisions and take action. Risk management is a systematic and rational process for using available information to evaluate an uncertain future and improve decision-making in homeland security. It is a dynamic and cyclical process that requires a balance of subject matter expertise, information technology, governance structures, and leadership.

Risk Management Training

CNA has developed homeland security risk management curriculum to help decision-makers at the state and local levels to better understand the risks their communities face from natural and man-made threats, and then help them to use the results of that risk analysis to inform strategic, operational, and tactical decisions in homeland security. Risk analysis results can shape strategic plans, approaches for allocating funds from grants or local budgets, management of special events, and the development of response strategies for real-world events.

This program includes three courses on homeland security risk management: a web-based introductory course; a web-based course on intermediate concepts; and a more advanced, instructor-led workshop.

Visit www.LearnAboutRisk.com to access the first two web-based courses and to review other supporting resources related to our training initiatives.

Risk Management Continuum

Homeland security policy and guidance cite the importance of using risk to inform decisions about how we invest limited resources to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all hazards. Although documents such as the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review and the National Preparedness Guidelines embrace risk management, additional guidance is needed to define what homeland security risk management is and how to build effective programs that support that capability. This homeland security risk management continuum is intended to be a simple tool to help homeland security personnel begin to evaluate their current approach to risk management and strengthen it over time.

Featured Article

Ensuring Preparedness: The Risk Management Approach by Timothy Beres
(as published in Domestic Preparedness, March 28, 2007)