From the terrorist attacks of 9/11, to Hurricane Katrina, homeland security risks vary widely. Managing these risks is especially difficult in today¿s environment of globalization, increasing security interdependence, and growing fiscal challenges for the fed. gov¿t. A forum of 25 experts was convened on Oct. 25, 2007, to advance a nat. dialogue on applying risk mgmt. to homeland security. Participants included fed., state, and local officials and risk mgt. experts from the private sector and academia. They identified: (1) what they considered to be effective risk mgmt. practices used by org. from the private and public sectors; and (2) key challenges to applying risk mgmt. to homeland security and actions that could be taken to address them. Illustrations.

Risk Management: Strengthening the Use of Risk Management Principles in Homeland Security

"From the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to Hurricane Katrina, homeland security risks vary widely. The nation can neither achieve total security nor afford to protect everything against all risks. Managing these risks is especially difficult in today's environment of globalization, increasing security interdependence, and growing fiscal challenges for the federal government. Broadly defined, risk management is a process that helps policymakers assess risk, strategically allocate finite resources, and take actions under conditions of uncertainty. GAO convened a forum of 25 national and international experts on October 25, 2007, to advance a national dialogue on applying risk management to homeland security. Participants included federal, state, and local officials and risk management experts from the private sector and academia. Forum participants identified (1) what they considered to be effective risk management practices used by organizations from the private and public sectors and (2) key challenges to applying risk management to homeland security and actions that could be taken to address them. Comments from the proceedings do not necessarily represent the views of all participants, the organizations of the participants, or GAO. Participants reviewed a draft of this report and their comments were incorporated, as appropriate."--Highlights.

Highlights of a forum convened by the Comptroller General of the United States : strengthening the use of risk management principles in homeland security