Hometown Security

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) most important mission is to protect the American people.  As part of this mission, DHS fosters collaboration between the private sector and the public sector to mitigate risk and enhance the security and resilience of public gathering sites and special events.

DHS provides expert counsel and recommendations on protective measures that organizations of all sizes can implement to protect facilities and venues. These tools and resources are offered free to communities because the Department recognizes that communities are the first line of defense in keeping the public safe and secure.

CISA’s Hometown Security program provides access to tools and resources to support community security and resilience; DHS recognizes that communities are the first line of defense in keeping the public safe and secure. For more resources to help be prepared, visit the products below.

Security Resources

• Homeland Threat Assessment evaluates the strategic threat environment and anticipates future or emerging threats. This document helps inform interagency policymaking, agency prioritization, resource allocation, and inter-governmental partnerships
• Personal Security Considerations fact sheet encourages critical infrastructure owners and their personnel to remain vigilant and report suspicious behavior that individuals may exhibit in order to thwart an attack.
• Pathway to Violence – Warning Signs and What You Can Do explains warning signs that may lead to violence and what individuals can do to mitigate a potential incident.
• Employee Vigilance Through the Power of Hello promotes employee vigilance to empower employees to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors, mitigate potential risk, and obtain help when necessary.
• Protecting Infrastructure During Public Demonstrations and Outdoor Eating Venue Fact Sheet provides security recommendations for infrastructure owners and operators who may encounter unlawful acts during public demonstrations.
• Suspicious or Unattended poster and postcard provides a process to safely determine if an item is a serious threat or just unattended.
• Bomb Threat Guidance provides site decision-makers with pre-threat preparation, threat assessment considerations, staff response guidelines, and evacuation and shelter-in-place considerations.
• Vehicle-Borne IED Identification – Parked Vehicles assists in recognizing potential indicators of a suspicious parked vehicle.
• What to Do Training Video Series provides guidance to security officials, the general public and many other stakeholders about the steps they should take to protect themselves and others from bomb incidents.
• Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP) is CISA’s counter-terrorism risk management bombing prevention program sponsored they agency’s Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP). BMAP focuses on restricting access by malicious actors to explosive precursor chemicals, explosive powders, exploding target materials, associated components, and delivery methods.
• Vehicle Ramming Self-Assessment tool allows each stakeholder to develop a risk mitigation strategy based on their identified vulnerabilities and options for consideration. The tool features a section on Information and resources where users have access to information on barriers, crowd management, considerations for high-speed avenues of approach, and many more security topics with corresponding references.
• Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) – Critical Infrastructure web presence provides access to various resources on small, unmanned aircraft systems security and response strategies. Resources linked through the website include frequently asked questions, cybersecurity best practices, legal advisories, security guidance, and more.
• Critical Infrastructure Exercises | CISA are cyber and physical security exercises conducted by CISA with government and industry partners to enhance security and resilience of critical infrastructure. CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages (CTEPs) are a comprehensive set of resources designed to assist stakeholders in conducting their own exercises. Partners can use CTEPs to initiate discussions within their organizations about their ability to address a variety of threat scenarios.
• CISA K-12 School Security Guide Suite is a set of products to support K-12 schools and communities in their efforts to strengthen security and protect against a range of targeted violence and other threats. The 3rd edition guide and companion tool outline action-oriented security practices and options for consideration across the K-12 school community.
• CISA offers resources dedicated to understanding the physical outcomes of cybersecurity attacks; cyber and physical security risks, vulnerabilities, and mitigation options specific to facilities, sectors, or technologies; and the benefits of adopting an integrated approach to security in organizations. Resources include: Autonomous Ground Vehicle Security Guide, Sector Spotlight: Cyber-Physical Security Considerations for the Electricity Sub-Sector, Stadium Spotlight: Connected Devices and Integrated Security Considerations, and the Cybersecurity and Physical Security Convergence Guide.