Chertoff Defends DHS‘s Dual Role [View All]

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http://www.localnewsleader.com/kindred/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=142083

Chertoff Defends DHS‘s Dual Role

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Monday rejected criticism that his agency is preoccupied with terror threats, at the expense of preparing for natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

His strong defense of his agency, in response to criticism by ex-federal disaster chief Michael Brown and others came as a congressional report blamed government-wide ineptitude for mishandling Hurricane Katrina relief.

Chertoff was announcing wide-ranging changes to the nation‘s embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency . The changes range from creation of a full-time response force of 1,500 new employees to establishing a more reliable system to report on disasters as they unfold.

Chertoff spoke at a gathering of state emergency management directors meeting in suburban Alexandria, Va. He responded to what he said were "people taking the position that DHS sees itself as a terrorism-focused agency" and that there‘s a "huge difference" between man-made and natural disasters.