Introduction to Homeland Security: Principles of All-Hazards Risk Management

by Jane A. Bullock, George D. Haddow, Damon P. Coppola

Bullock, Haddow, and Coppola have set the standard for homeland security textbooks, and they follow up their #1-selling third edition with this substantially improved version. Students will value the decades of experience that the authors bring to their analysis, and the new edition offers still more research-based data to balance the field-tested practical information included in each chapter. Additionally, links to the most current online government information help to keep the text up-to-date in this rapidly developing field. As with its predecessors, the book clearly delineates the bedrock principles of preparing for, mitigating, managing, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. However, this new edition emphasizes their value with improved clarity and focus. NEW TO THIS This edition has been thoroughly revised to include changes that are based both on changes relevant to the political, budgetary, and legal aspects of homeland security that have changed since the 2008 Presidential election (and subsequent change in the administration), but also in recognition of an expanding academic demand that is both larger in size and changing in scope (most notably with regard to an increase in the number of government employees and officials who are taking courses that have adopted the text). These an expansion of material on the organization of the Department of Homeland Security; strategic and philosophical changes that are recommended and/or that have occurred as a result of the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review completed in 2010; updated budgetary information on both homeland security programs and on the homeland security grants that have supported safety and security actions at the state and local levels, as well as in the private sector; and changes in the way the public perceives and receives information about security risk, including the possible elimination of the Homeland Security Advisory System.

688 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this textbook covered a good amount of information. It is a good start for beginning classes, as like the title says, it is an introduction to homeland security. The concepts and topics don't go extremely in-depth but the book provided enough information to gather a good understanding of the material.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the first generation texts on homeland security. As such, it has a somewhat ad hoc feel to it, as though these (and other) authors are feeling out just what a text on homeland security is all about. The purpose of the book is described on page xiv: "The intent of this book is to provide a primer on homeland security for emergency managers, students of emergency management, and for the countless public and private sector individuals who find themselves suddenly thrust into the ever-expanding domain of homeland security."

The scope of the book is wide, as it covers a lot of territory. One necessary consequence of this is that coverage of individual topics can be a bit thin. On the other hand, the breadth of coverage is itself a virtue. One must trade off a bit of depth for breadth.

The book begins with a discussion of an historic overview of terrorist threats. As such, it does "set the table" for the rest of the book. However, there is actually very little on terrorists, their tactics, etc. Thus, the chapter seems to be written in something of a contextual vacuum. At some point in the volume, there should probably be a chapter on what we know about terrorists.

The book also explores the statutory and organizational infrastructure for homeland security. The resulting chapters are serviceable. Chapters proceed with coverage of safety and security; mitigation, prevention, and preparedness; response and recovery; communications; technology. The final chapter is forward looking, exploring the future of homeland security; it also considers the lessons learned from the reorganization of FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security.

Thus, while there is a "generic" sense to this book, it covers a great deal of territory and provides a broad-based introduction to the subject of homeland security. As such, a useful volume.

[Jenn Lambert · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's another school book. Since I had already taken terrorism, there was a lot of repeat information.