Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO), United States National

Formed in October 1998, the United States National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) is the coordination center for all federal efforts in response to weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It works with a variety of federal agencies, and assists state and local emergency responders in preparing for the response to a WMD event. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) originally formed NDPO, which became part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March 2003.

An August, 1998, stakeholders conference involving leading members of the federal emergency response community resulted in a recommendation that a single office coordinate all federal WMD preparedness assistance programs. The result was the creation of NDPO by Attorney General Janet Reno, who placed the FBI in charge of the new office, initially known as the Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness.

NDPO works in partnership, not only with the FBI, but also with the departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, and Justice; the Federal Emergency Management and Environmental Protection agencies; the Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support; and the National Guard Bureau. Its mission is to coordinate and facilitate all federal WMD efforts to assist state and local responders in their response to a WMD event. This requires assistance in planning, training, equipment, exercise, and health and medical issues.

█ FURTHER READING:

PERIODICALS:

"Training Centers Offer Assistance." Crime Control Digest 36, no. 18 (May 3, 2002): 11.

Vise, David A. "Senate Panel Blasts FBI's Deployment." Washington Post. (July 21, 2000): A29.

ELECTRONIC:

National Domestic Preparedness Office. Federation of American Scientists. <http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/ndpo/> (March 28, 2003).

Office of Domestic Preparedness. U.S. Department of Justice. <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/> (March 28, 2003).

SEE ALSO

FBI (United States Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Homeland Security, United States Department
Weapons of Mass Destruction