Since 9/11 the USA is at War in “The Global War On Terrorism”. This war requires the protection of the Homeland against catastrophic events. For years the Federal Agency FEMA, in cooperation with various States entities, has successfully fulfilled the task of Crisis Management and damage mitigation.

Until 2001, most of the major crisis were the product of natural events like tornadoes, flooding and earthquakes. Since 2001, the most pressing threat is from criminal and terrorist acts involving the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. To confront this new threat the Federal Government has reorganised itself and created a new agency, the Department of Homeland Security with a staff of 176 000 employees. In addition multi-billion dollars support programs for the States were voted by the Federal Congress in Washington. According to the National Conference of Mayors, four years after 9/11, half of the Counties and Cities are still waiting for the financial support. Because of tight local budgets much remains to be done to protect the Homeland efficiently.

Two major obstacles are confronting the States and Local Authorities: Interoperability and Communications. Interoperability must be analysed at three levels. First, the technology level, second the operational and procedures level and third the systemic and institutional level. The analysis must be done multidimensionally horizontally and vertically for each level. Communications requires technical interoperability, the ability to operate in a chaotic environment when nothing works as advertised and the willingness to share intelligence. The Federal Agencies are showing a great reluctance to share critical information with the States whose personnel, generally, do not have security clearances. Therefore the States are starting to organise regional networks to share sets of “Best Practise” and cooperative programs.

Training curriculum is getting greater attention as well as the management of regular large scale regional exercises. Elected officials are getting concerned with the potential political backlash and legal liability arising from inadequate preparation.

From a European standpoint much is to be gained by sharing experience between european and US regional entities and large cities.